States of Western Europe in the Middle Ages were not consistent.Each represents several large fiefdoms, which, in turn, were divided into smaller ones.For example, in Germany, there were about two hundred small states.Most of them were too small, and they spoke in jest, that the head of the ruler is sleeping on his land, and elongated legs - in the possession of his neighbor.This was the era of feudal fragmentation, the country's occupation of Western Europe.
This topic is very interesting not only for the students, for whom it is summarized in the textbook "World History.Grade 6 ", as well as adults, maybe a little rusty schoolwork.
definition
Feudalism - a political system that emerged in the Middle Ages and to act on the territory of the then European countries.Countries with this order management were divided into segments called feuds.These lands were distributed monarchs-sovereigns in the long-term use of noble subjects - vassals.The owners, in whose management fell territories were obliged each year to pay tribute to the state treasury, as well as send in the army ruler of a certain number of knights and other armed soldiers.And for that vassals, in turn, not only got all the rights to use land, but could dispose of labor and the fate of people who consider their subjects.The collapse of the empire
After the death of Charlemagne in 814, his successors failed to sustain the state of decay.And all the prerequisites and causes of feudal fragmentation started to show it from the very moment when frankiyskie lords, or rather, graphs, who are officials of the empire, began to seize land.The free people living there, they are converted to their vassals and forced peasants.
feudal lords owned estates, called Senor, which is actually closed farms.Their territories were made all the necessary products for life, beginning with food and ending with the materials for the construction of the castle - well fortified structures, inhabited by the owners of these lands.We can say that feudal fragmentation in Europe has arisen and that's thanks to this natural economy, contribute to the full independence of the nobles.
Over time, the position of the graph became hereditary and attach the largest landowners.They have ceased to obey the emperor, and medium and small feudal lords turned to his vassals.
Treaty of Verdun
With the death of Charlemagne in his family begin a quarrel that led to the present war.At this time the feudal lords begin to support them.But finally tired of constant warfare, in 843, Charlemagne's grandsons decided to meet in the city of Verdun, where he signed an agreement according to which the empire was divided into three parts.
The agreement is one part of the land passed into the possession of Louis the German.He became the ruler of the territory situated north of the Alps and east of the Rhine.This state has been called the East-Frankish.It spoke a German dialect.
The second part was the management of Karl, who bore the nickname Bald.It was a land located to the west of the Rhone river, the Scheldt and the Meuse.They became known as the West Francia.Here, speaking in tongues, which subsequently formed the basis of modern French.
third part of the land, with the title of Emperor, went to the eldest of the brothers - Lothar.He owned the areas along the River Rhine, and Italy.But soon the brothers had a falling out, and between war again ensued.Louis Carl united against Lothair, robbed him of the land and divided them among themselves.At this time, the title of emperor is almost nothing.
It was after the separation of the former state of Charlemagne in Western Europe began a period of feudal fragmentation.Subsequently, the ownership of the three brothers have become a country that exist to this day - this is Italy, Germany and France.
Medieval European states
addition of Charlemagne's empire, there were other major European country.In 1066, the Duke of Normandy (a region located in the north of France), subdue the Anglo-Saxon kingdom, united them and became king of England.His name was William the Conqueror.
To the east German states already forms the Slavic states such as the Czech Republic, Poland and Kievan Rus.And on the Danube River, dominated by the nomads who came here, over time, the Hungarian Kingdom.In addition, in the northern part of Europe arose, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.All of these states for some time been united.
The collapse of the medieval states
So what were here for reasons of feudal fragmentation?The reason for the collapse of the empire of that time were not only feuding rulers.As you know, the land belonging to the state of Charlemagne, were united by force of arms.Therefore, the causes of feudal disunity lie in the fact that there was an attempt to gather in one of the empire completely different people who did not want to live together.For example, the population of West Francia was called by the French, the East Frankish - the Germans, and the people that live in Italy - the Italians.An interesting fact is that the very first documents drawn up in the languages of the peoples living there, it appeared during the struggle for power, the grandchildren of the Emperor Charlemagne.So, Charles the Bald and Louis the German signed a contract stating that they vow to stand together against their brother Lothar.These papers were drawn up in French and German.
Power nobles
reasons feudal fragmentation in Europe is largely dependent on the actions of the Counts and Dukes, which is sort of governors in different parts of the country.But over time, when they began to feel almost unlimited power, the feudal lords ceased to obey the chief ruler.Now they have served only to owners of land on whose territory they were estates.However, they reported directly to the duke or earl, and then only during the war, when played in a campaign led his troops well.When it's the world, they were completely independent and manage their lands and the people inhabiting them as it sees fit.
feudal ladder
To create his army, dukes and earls gave part of its territory smaller landowners.Thus, one became lords (main), and others - their vassals (military servants).Took possession of feudal vassal knelt before his lord, and swore allegiance to him.Instead, Mr. handed his vassal a tree branch and a handful of earth.
main feudal lord in the state is the king.He was considered the lord of counts and dukes.In their possession were hundreds of villages and a large number of military units.On the step below were barons, who were vassals of the counts and dukes.They had usually not more than three dozen villages, and a detachment of soldiers.Baron obeyed small feudal knights.
a result of the feudal hierarchy formed with average income for the lord was fine, but at the same time he was a vassal of a larger nobles.Therefore there is a rather interesting position.Those nobles who were vassals of the king, were not obliged to obey him and carry out his orders.There was even a special rule.It read: "The vassal of my vassal - not my vassal."
relations between the classes were like the stairs, where the lower levels were small feudal lords, and on top - the larger headed by the king.It is this division was to become known as the feudal ladder.The peasants were not part of it, because all the lords and vassals lived by their labor.
Subsistence farming
reasons feudal fragmentation of Western Europe is in the fact that the people not only of individual regions and villages, and almost did not need any public relations with other localities.All the necessary things, food and tools that they can produce themselves or just to barter with neighbors.At this time, just a subsistence economy was flourishing, when the trade itself ceased to exist.
military policy
feudal fragmentation, causes and consequences of which have a significant impact on the military might of the Royal Army itself, could not only contribute to its strengthening, but also increase the authority of the central government in the eyes of large landowners.The feudal lords by the tenth century had time to acquire their own squads.Therefore, the personal army of the king could not fully resist such vassals.At the time, the governor of the state is only a contingent of the then head of the whole hierarchical system.In fact, the country was under the rule of lords - the dukes, barons and princes.
reasons for the collapse of the European states
So, all the main causes of feudal fragmentation have been identified in the study of cultural and socio-economic development of the countries of Western Europe in the Middle Ages.This political system has led to a rise in terms of material well-being, and to the flourishing of spiritual direction.Historians have concluded that the process of feudal fragmentation was quite logical and objective.But this applies only to European states.
This is common to all states without exception, the reasons of feudal fragmentation, summarized in two points:
● Have a subsistence economy.It is, on the one hand, provided a fairly sharp rise in welfare and trade, as well as the rapid development of land tenure, and the other - the complete absence of any specialization of individual areas and very limited economic relations with other lands.
● sedentary squad.In other words, the transformation of its members in feudal privilege which is the right to own land.In addition, their power over the peasantry was boundless.They had the opportunity to judge the people and punish them for various faults.This caused a weakening of the impact of policies of the central government into separate territories.Also, there are prerequisites for the successful solution of problems of military forces of the local people.
feudal fragmentation of Russian land
processes taking place in Western Europe since the X century, could not ignore the principality, inhabited by Eastern Slavs.But it should be noted that the causes of feudal fragmentation in Russia had a special character.This can be explained by other socio-economic trends, as well as local customs succession.
State Separation into principalities was due to the great influence which use of local know-called boyars.In addition, they owned vast landholdings and supported the local princes.And rather than submit to the Kiev authorities, they agreed among themselves.
Heredity Thrones
As in Europe, feudal fragmentation started with the fact that many descendants of the rulers could not share power.If the Western countries acted Salic Law heritage throne, demanding to pass the throne from father to eldest son, at the Russian lands had the right to act Lestvicheskoe.It provided for the transfer of power from the older to the younger brother, and so on. D.
Numerous offspring of all the brothers grew up, and they each wanted to dominate.Over time, the situation became more complicated, and pretenders to the throne are constantly and tirelessly intrigued against each other.
first serious strife became a military conflict between the heirs of Prince Svyatoslav, who died in 972.The winner got out of his son Vladimir, later christened Russia.The collapse of the state began after the reign of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, who died in 1132.After this feudal disunity lasted until the earth began to unite around Moscow.
reasons fragmented Russian land
process of fragmentation of Kievan Rus' covers the period from XII to the beginning of XIV century.In this era of princes were long and bloody civil wars for the expansion of land holdings.
Here are the most important causes of feudal fragmentation, concisely and clearly set out in four points, applicable only in Russia:
● Strengthening internal strife as a result of two trends that have existed in the rules of succession to the throne of Kiev.One of them - the Byzantine law, which allows to transfer power from father to eldest son, the second - Russian custom in which the heir should be a senior in age.
● The significant weakening of the role of Kiev as the central authority.This was due to the raids Polovtsy make the trip along the Dnipro dangerous, thus began the exodus from Kiev, in the north-west.
● The significant weakening of the threat from the Normans and Pechenegs, as well as the defeat of the Khazar khanate and the establishment of relations with the rulers of the Byzantine Empire.
● Creation of Yaroslav the Wise of the specific system.After his death in 1054 Russian land swallowed whole series of civil wars.Ancient holistic state of the sole monarchy was transformed into a federal, which began to lead several influential princes Yaroslav.
We hope that this article has helped supplement the knowledge of not only the students who are now studying the theme of "Reasons of feudal fragmentation" textbook "World History.6th grade".It will refresh the memory of university students in the events in the Middle Ages.Yet such a topic as feudal fragmentation, causes and consequences of which we have described in some detail, you see, is quite interesting.
