Logistics Of Power Essay, Research Paper
Carolingians ? Charlemagne could not visit or
directly rule various lands ? local and regional aristocracies remained ?
Bavarians fought as Bavarians ? establishment of a son in a sub-kingdom
recognition of regional power more than an attempt to control more tension
from relationship of son to ruler (Charlemagne?s reorganisation of Louis?
fisc) and ruled than resentment to central directives ? few and far
between. Royal household structure managed by a leading
aristocrat who used positions of household as power tools etc. Court also forms part of centralised government ?
Francis ? size of empire, volume of business, generated new requirement
for delegation an coordination for multiplying of royal agents ? new forms
of communication between agents and kin Notaries and charters important in expressing
legitimacy to land and importance, viability of the king?s power.? 9th century Carolingian
kings when settling in permanent residence built archive ?c written
messages did not replace oral ones ? courtiers and envoys, whose comings
and goings annalists of court depended for their information and
instruction must have used spoken word more than written word. Counts essential middle men between ruler and
people in Carolingian kingdom, all purpose agents.? Carolingian capitularies three main
roles for counts 1. social order, justice, crime 2. look after royal
estates an 3. summon men when the king campaigned.? Less tidy than this, overlapping
authorities, some counties larger some more wealthy.? Counts as missi and aristocrats first
and royal agents second ? around their own and, countships hereditary. Frankish aristocratic collaborators made possible
expansion and prime beneficiaries ? honoures in acquired regna ? conquest
Aquitaine appointment franks to key countships an to Ita
authority of laws and cause the custom of the Franks to be observed?- Charlemagne?s
acquisition of Bavaria abandonment of Tassilo by key members Bavarian
aristocracy ? Lombardic and Bavarians allowed to keep own laws ? much in
terms self consciousness and autonomy ? law territorial not personal. Who will guard those guards?? Ruler himself? -Charlemagne employs missi dominici to hear grievances
against counts, to choose, supervise selection knowledgeable men to serve
in comital courts. Carolingians used Vassi ? vassals, due to royal
land, could function as agents in centre and in the province ? no
progression vassal to count so perhaps recruited from meidocres. Bishops similar role to counts ? Charles the Bald
may have used bishops instead of counts. Sanctions non fulfilment of duties: deprivation of
patrimonies ? threat of royal intervention often enough to impel count to
do justice. Carolingians formally dissolved jurisdiction to
regional princes who functioned like ub-Kings ? counts and peasants to
princes and war bands ? government multi layered ? small worlds remained
part of greater ones.? Carolingians
trade offs between local aristocratic power and royal power ? good deal
subsidiarity etc. Palace relatively public place ? people still come
there even peasants. Regnal order never clearer than when King summoned
an assembly ? royal government applied to every time of problem ? 794
Frankfurt ? clearing up rebellion 792, faithless from faithful, confirming
downfall of Tassilo of Bavaria, serious famine, prices, punishing
profiteers etc. Much disorder ? but Kings took seriously God-sent
obligation to preserve peace and order in their realms and strove to
engage their people along with them. Military obligation fundamental, failure to perform
serious breach ruler?s authority ?