2. Monarchs, nobles, and the church -Monarchs were the head of society, but relied on vassals for military support. -both nobles and the church had their own court, collected their own taxes, and fielded their own armies. -Monarchs expanded the royal domain and set up a system of royal justice that undermined feudal or church courts. Strong monarchs in England -in 1066 King Edward died without on heir -a council of nobles chose his brother in-law heir to rule. -Duke William also claimed the throne. Norman Conquest -Duke William raised an army and won the backing of the Pope. -At the Battle of Hastings, Duke William and his Norman Knights triumphed over Harold. - On Christmas day, Duke William assumed the crown of England.

3. Growth of the Royal Power - Duke William granted fiefs to the Church and his Norman Lords but also kept a large amount of land for himself. - He had a Census called the Doomsday Book, which listed every castle, field and pigpen in England. - In formation from the Doomsday Book, helped Duke William build an efficient system of tax collecting. -Duke William successor created the royal exchequer or treasury, to collect taxes. A Unified legal system. -King Henry II, inherited the throne in 1154. He set up common law, a legal system based on customs and court rulings. - When traveling justices visited an area, local officials collected a jury or group of men sworn to speak the truth. Conflict with the Church -Henry’s efforts to extend the royal power led to a dispute between Henry Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. -After four of King Henry’s Knights murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace with the Church Henry eased his attempts to regulate his clergy.

4. Evolving Traditions of English Government -After English rulers repeatedly clashed with the nobles and the Church, battles developed as a result of effort by the Monarch to raise taxes or impose royal authority over tradition feudal rights. John’s Troubles - Henry‘s son John faced three powerful enemies: King Philip II of - France, Pope Innocent III, and his own nobles. -John suffered a set back when he lost a war with Pope Innocent III and had to give up English held lands. -When John rejected the Popes nominee for Archbishop, the Pope excommunicated him and placed England under the interdict. To save himself and his crown he accepted a fief of the papacy and paid and yearly fee to Rome. The Magna Carta - A Group of rebellious barons cornered John and forced him to sign Magna Carta, or The Great Charter. - In this document the King affirmed a long list of feudal rights. -the magna carta contained 2 important ideas that would shape government traditions in England.

5. Development of parliament -in keeping with the magna carta, English rulers often called a great council for advice this body evolved into a parliament. -later, this assembly became known as the model parliament because it set up the France work for England’s legislature. Successful monarchs in France -monarchs in France did not rule over a unified kingdom. The Capetians -feudal nobles elected Hugh Capet to fill the vacant throne. -he had hid heirs make the throne hereditary passing it from throne to throne. -added to their land by playing rival nobles against each other, also won support of the church. -the capetians built a bureaucracy and government officials collected taxes and imposed royal laws over the kings domain.

6. Phillip Augustus -Phillip Augustus was a shrewd and able ruler. -instead of appointing nobles to fill government positions, he used paid middle class officials who would owe their loyalty to him. -he granted new charters to many towns, he organized a standing army, and introduced a new national tax. -before his death in 1223 he had become the most powerful ruler in Europe. Louis IX, king and saint -King Louis IX was generous, noble, and devoted to justice and chivalry. -within 30 years of his death he was declared a saint. -he was a deeply religious man. -persecuted heretics and Jews and led thousands of French knights in 2 wars against Muslims. -his enormous personal prestige helped create a strong national feeling among his subjects. Phillip IV clashes with the pope. -ruthlessly extended royal power. -in efforts to collect new taxes led to clash with pope Boniface VIII -pope forbade Phillip to tax so he responded by threats to arrest any clergy who didn’t pay.

7. The estate general -during struggle with pope Phillip rallied French support by setting up estates. -the estate general didn’t develop same role as the English parliament did.