Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 42
Title	The Formation of Feudal Lordship in the Early Capetian Dynasty
Author	Phenix Chen
Page	327-366
Abstract	After the mid-ninth century, the authority of the Carolingian kings declined rapidly. Faced with the rise of magnates within the country, and the aggressive attempts of the Germanic kings toward Lorraine, the situation facing the Carolingians became ever more difficult. Noteworthy was the rise of the Robert family, to whom Hugh Capet belonged. Thanks to their victories over the Normans, the Robert family often contested the Carolingians in royal successions between the ninth and tenth centuries. Meanwhile, the hostility of Germanic kings toward the Carolingians and the change in the traditional support of the papacy led to the momentous event in 987: under the support of the most influential Archbishop of Reims Adalbéron, Charles Duke of Lorraine was denied the right of succession, and Hugh Capet succeeded to the throne of France, thus initiating the rule of the Capetian dynasty. 　　During the early Capetian dynasty, due to the extreme limitations of royal authority, the existing power of the dukes, counts, and castellans increased ever more. The rise of these feudal lords accelerated the dispersion of central power; the widespread appearance of the castellans represented a characteristic development of this period. Exercising public authority in the name of dukes, counts, and bishops, these lords extended their familial influence to neighboring areas; at the same time, they used military mobilization and judicial powers to rule over peasants, and gradually freed themselves from political restraints from above, becoming autonomous feudal lords. Another type of lordship was represented by the landed lord. Using castles or manor houses as their centers of power, they exacted taxation from neighboring small landholders, incorporating them under their control. Both types of lordship were passed on by hereditary succession, establishing the tradition of male primogeniture. In addition to these secular lordships, the authority of bishops and abbots also increased between the tenth and twelfth centuries, and gradually consolidated into a third type of feudal lordship. Not only did the formation of feudal lordship develop in reciprocity with French royal power, the articulation of the relationship between lords and vassals constituted the political structure of western Europe. 　　The formation of feudal lordship, with its claim to military mobilization and justice, represented a threat to the local populace, as well as to the church; the numerous acts of violence provoked the popular consciousness for a new social order, leading thus to the Cluniac Reform and the movement of peace under the sponsorship of the Church. At the same time, from the early Capetian reign to the twelfth century, in addition to elevating the sacrality of royal power and establishing male primogeniture, the French monarchy also tried to extend the reputation and authority of the Capetian dynasty, by strengthening lord-vassal relations, in order to establish the highest judicial position of the king within the realm of France. Up to the thirteenth century, the French monarchy succeeded in gaining the highest judicial role in the lord-vassal relations within France, thus providing the background for the gradual expansion of monarchial power. Through exploring the political and social developments of this period, this essay will analyze the formation of feudal lordship and its meaning and historical context in the early Capetian reign.
Keyword	Feudal Lordship, Capetian dynasty, Castellans, Cluniac Reform, Movement of Peace
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