The New Monarchs England France Spain

Feudal System Power of the feudal monarchy of the High Middle Ages had been divided between King and his semi-autonomous vassals Nobility and towns had acted with some unity through assemblies to thwart the centralization of royal power.

Chaos of the 1300’s and 1400’s 100 Years’ War and Great Schism had brought down the nobility and the clergy Middle class people in the towns had tired of private wars & marauding feudal lords

New Alliance between King and Towns “New Monarchs” offered the institution of Monarchy as guarantee of law and order Towns began to ally themselves with the King. Arousing sentiments of loyalty, kings proclaimed that hereditary monarchy was the legitimate form of public power which all should accept without turmoil or resistance.

With the royal power to tax, the king was able to gather armies with which to control nobles To organize the monarchy, King had to break down the customary rights of feudal classes King revived the Roman law, now actively studied in the universities.

Salus populi suprema lex: King could make law by his own authority Experts in Roman law maintained that the King incorporated the will and welfare of the people in one person King now referred to as “sovereign” Began to be addressed as “majesty” Salus populi suprema lex: “the welfare of the people is the highest law” King could make law by his own authority Quod principi legis habet vigorem: “what pleases the king has the force of law”

England New Monarchy came with the dynasty of the Tudors 1st King was Henry VII (1485) defeated the house of York at the Battle of Bosworth Field ending the War of the Roses In these wars, the great English baronial families had seriously weakened each other (good for Henry!) From thence forward national feeling in England consolidated around the House of Tudor.

France New Monarchy came with Louis XI (1461) of the Valois line (son of Charles VII) Louis continued to round out French borders Built up a royal army, suppressed brigands, subdued rebellious nobles Acquired great powers to raise taxes Also enlarged his powers over the clergy

Spain 1469: Union of Isabela of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon They did together what neither could do alone; secure their borders, venture abroad militarily Distinctly Catholic, and religion was used as a unifying force: Reyes Católicos

1482-1492: They finalized the Reconquista of Spain removing all Moorish domination 1492: they conquered the last Moorish stronghold, the Kingdom of Granada in the southwest part of Spain They won allegiance of the Hermandades, a powerful league of cities and towns. They would use the Inquisition as a unifying instrument to remove all non-Catholics from power August 7th, 1492: the same day CC set sail, so too did thousands of expulsed Jews and Moslems from Spain