A clear, accessible view of how Louis VI laid the groundwork for a stronger French monarchy.
This scholarly study examines the early Capetian king’s efforts to centralize power, balance feudal interests, and strengthen royal administration. It blends narrative with documentary detail to show how governance, law, and economy intertwined in the twelfth century.
This edition focuses on the reign of Louis VI (1081–1137) and the development of a centralized state. It traces the rise of central administration, the roles of key officials, and the evolution of local governance, including the prevots and their officers. The work also surveys feudal and public economy, church relations, and the political maneuvers that shaped northern France.
- How Suger helped shape royal policy and administration without holding secular titles.
- The growth of local government through prevots, vicars, beadles, and town officials.
- Efforts to reform taxation and land measurement to curb feudal abuses.
- Influence of foreign policy and regional power balances on the French throne.
Ideal for readers of medieval political history, state-building in the Capetian era, and anyone curious about how early monarchs extended royal authority.