Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation FGBOU VPO "Povolzhskaya GAFKSIT"

ESSAY

in history

SUBJECT:Feudal fragmentation in Western

Europe

Completed:

Abdullin Nurzat Almazovich, student 4213z

Accepted:

Shabalina Yulia Vladimirovna

Kazan

1) Feudal fragmentation is a natural process.

2) Feudal fragmentation in Western Europe

a) Feudal fragmentation in England

b) The development of medieval Germany

c) Growth of Byzantine cities

d) a predatory campaign in Italy

e) Reasons for the fragmentation of Western Europe

f) War between feudal lords

g) Feudal staircase

h) Summary

Introduction

With the branching of the ruling dynasty in the early feudal states, the expansion of their territory and the administrative apparatus, whose representatives exercise the power of the monarch over the local population, collecting tribute and troops, the number of contenders for central power increases, peripheral military resources increase, and the control capabilities of the center weaken. The supreme power becomes nominal, and the monarch begins to be elected by large feudal lords from his midst, while the resources of the elected monarch, as a rule, are limited by the resources of his original principality, and he cannot transfer supreme power by inheritance. In this situation, the rule "the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal" works.

The first exceptions are England in the north-west of Europe (the Salisbury oath of 1085, all feudal lords are direct vassals of the king) and Byzantium in its south-east (at about the same time, Emperor Alexei I Komnenos forced the crusaders who seized lands in the Middle East, recognize vassal dependence on the empire, thereby including these lands in the empire and preserving its unity). In these cases, all the lands of the state are divided into the domain of the monarch and the lands of his vassals, as in the next historical stage, when the supreme power is assigned to one of the princes, it again begins to be inherited and the process of centralization begins (this stage is often called a patrimonial monarchy).

The full development of feudalism became a prerequisite for the end of feudal fragmentation, since the overwhelming majority of the feudal stratum, its ordinary representatives, were objectively interested in having a single spokesman for their interests:

Feudal fragmentation is natural

process

In the history of the early feudal states of Europe in the X-XII centuries. are a period of political fragmentation. By this time, the feudal nobility had already turned into a privileged group, belonging to which was determined by birth. The existing monopoly property of the feudal lords on land was reflected in the rules of law. "There is no land without a lord." The peasants found themselves for the most part in personal and land dependence on the feudal lords. Having received a monopoly on land, the feudal lords also acquired significant political power: the transfer of part of their land to vassals, the right to litigate and mint money, the maintenance of their own military force, etc. In accordance with the new realities, a different hierarchy of feudal society is now taking shape, which has legal consolidation: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." Thus, the internal cohesion of the feudal nobility was achieved, its privileges were protected from encroachments by the central government, which was weakening by this time. For example, in France before the beginning of the XII century. the real power of the king did not extend beyond the domain, which was inferior in size to the possessions of many large feudal lords. The king, in relation to his immediate vassals, had only formal suzerainty, and the big lords behaved completely independently. Thus began to take shape the foundations of feudal fragmentation. It is known that on the territory that collapsed in the middle of the 9th century. In the empire of Charlemagne, three new states arose: French, German and Italian (Northern Italy), each of which became the base of the emerging territorial-ethnic community - nationality. Then the process of political disintegration embraced each of these new formations. So, in the territory of the French kingdom at the end of the 9th century. there were 29 possessions, and at the end of the tenth century. - about 50. But now they were for the most part not ethnic, but patrimonial seigneurial formations

The collapse of the early feudal territorial organization of state power and the triumph of feudal fragmentation represented the completion of the process

the formation of feudal relations and the flourishing of feudalism in Western Europe. In its content, it was a natural and progressive process, due to the rise of internal colonization, the expansion of the area of ​​cultivated land. Thanks to the improvement of labor tools, the use of animal draft power and the transition to three-field cultivation, land cultivation improved, industrial crops began to be cultivated - flax, hemp; new branches of agriculture appeared - viticulture, etc. As a result, the peasants began to have surplus products that they could exchange for handicrafts, and not make them themselves. The labor productivity of artisans increased, and the technique and technology of handicraft production improved. The craftsman turned into a small commodity producer working for trade exchange. Ultimately, these circumstances led to the separation of craft from agriculture, the development of commodity-money relations, trade and the emergence of a medieval city. They became centers of crafts and trade. As a rule, cities in Western Europe arose on the land of the feudal lord and therefore inevitably submitted to him. The townspeople, most of whom were mostly former peasants, remained in the land or personal dependence of the feudal lord. The desire of the townspeople to free themselves from such dependence led to a struggle between cities and lords for their rights and independence. This movement, widely developed in Western Europe in the X-XIII centuries. went down in history under the name of "communal movement". All rights and privileges won or acquired for a ransom were recorded in the charter. By the end of the XIII century. many cities achieved self-government, became commune cities. So, about 50% of English cities had their own self-government, city council, mayor and court. The inhabitants of such cities in England, Italy, France, etc. became free from feudal dependence. A fugitive peasant who lived in the cities of these countries for a year and one day became free. Thus, in the XIII century. a new estate appeared - the townspeople - as an independent political force with its own status, privileges and liberties: personal freedom, jurisdiction of the city court, participation in the city militia. The emergence of estates that achieved significant political and legal rights was an important step towards the formation of estate-representative monarchies in the countries of Western Europe. This became possible thanks to the strengthening of the central government, first in England, then in France. The development of commodity-money relations and the involvement of the countryside in this process undermined the subsistence economy and created conditions for the development of the domestic market. The feudal lords, seeking to increase their incomes, began to transfer land to the peasants for hereditary holding, reduced the lord's plowing, encouraged internal colonization, willingly accepted fugitive peasants, settled uncultivated lands with them and provided them with personal freedom. The estates of the feudal lords were also drawn into market relations. These circumstances led to a change in the forms of feudal rent, the weakening, and then the complete elimination of personal feudal dependence. Quite quickly this process took place in England, France, Italy. .

Feudal fragmentation in Western Europe

Feudal fragmentation in England

The process of feudal fragmentation in the X-XII centuries. began to develop in England. This was facilitated by the transfer by the royal power to the nobility of the right to collect feudal duties from the peasants and their lands. As a result of this, the feudal lord (secular or ecclesiastical), who received such an award, becomes the full owner of the land occupied by the peasants and their personal master. The private property of the feudal lords grew, they became economically stronger and sought greater independence from the king. The situation changed after England in 1066 was conquered by the Duke of Normandy William the Conqueror. As a result, the country, moving towards feudal fragmentation, turned into a cohesive state with strong monarchical power. This is the only example on the European continent in this period.

The point was that the conquerors deprived many representatives of the former nobility of their possessions, carrying out mass confiscation of landed property. The king became the actual owner of the land, who transferred part of it as fiefs to his warriors and part of the local feudal lords who expressed their readiness to serve him. But these possessions were now in different parts of England. The only exceptions were a few counties, which were located on the outskirts of the country and were intended for the defense of the border areas. The dispersion of feudal estates (130 large vassals had land in 2-5 counties, 29 - in 6-10 counties, 12 - in 10-21 counties), their private return to the king served as an obstacle to the transformation of the barons into independent landowners, as it was, for example in France

Development of medieval Germany

The development of medieval Germany was characterized by a certain originality. Until the 13th century it was one of the most powerful states in Europe. And then the process of internal political fragmentation begins to develop rapidly here, the country breaks up into a number of independent associations, while other Western European countries embarked on the path of state consolidation. The fact is that the German emperors, in order to maintain their power over dependent countries, needed the military assistance of the princes and were forced to make concessions to them. Thus, if in other countries of Europe the royal power deprived the feudal nobility of its political privileges, then in Germany the process of legislative consolidation of the highest state rights for the princes developed. As a result, the imperial power gradually lost its positions and became dependent on large secular and church feudal lords. . In addition, in Germany, despite the rapid development already in the tenth century. cities (the result of the separation of craft from agriculture), did not develop, as was the case in England, France and other countries, an alliance between the royal power and the cities. Therefore, the German cities were unable to play an active role in the political centralization of the country. And, finally, Germany has not formed, like England or France, a single economic center that could become the core of political unification. Each principality lived separately. As the princely power strengthened, the political and economic fragmentation of Germany intensified.

Growth of Byzantine cities

In Byzantium at the beginning of the XII century. the formation of the main institutions of feudal society was completed, a feudal estate was formed, and the bulk of the peasants were already in land or personal dependence. The imperial power, presenting wide privileges to secular and church feudal lords, contributed to their transformation into all-powerful patrimonials, who had an apparatus of judicial and administrative power and armed squads. It was the payment of the emperors to the feudal lords for their support and service. The development of crafts and trade led at the beginning of the XII century. to the fairly rapid growth of Byzantine cities. But unlike Western Europe, they did not belong to individual feudal lords, but were under the rule of the state, which did not seek an alliance with the townspeople. Byzantine cities did not achieve self-government, like Western European cities. The townspeople, subjected to cruel fiscal exploitation, were thus forced to fight not with the feudal lords, but with the state. Strengthening the positions of feudal lords in the cities, establishing their control over trade and marketing of their products, undermined the well-being of merchants and artisans. With the weakening of imperial power, the feudal lords became absolute masters in the cities. . Increasing tax oppression led to frequent uprisings that weakened the state. At the end of the XII century. the empire began to fall apart. This process accelerated after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the crusaders. The empire fell, and the Latin Empire and several other states were formed on its ruins. And although in 1261 the Byzantine state was restored again (it happened after the fall of the Latin Empire), but the former power was no longer there. This continued until the fall of Byzantium under the blows of the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Plundering campaign in Italy

In the X century, the German feudal lords, led by their king, began to make predatory campaigns in Italy. Having captured part of Italy with the city of Rome, the German king declared himself Roman emperor. The new state was later called the "Holy Roman Empire". But it was a very weak state. The large feudal lords of Germany did not submit to the emperor. The population of Italy did not stop fighting the invaders. Each new German king had to make a campaign for the Alps in order to conquer the country again. For several centuries in a row, German feudal lords plundered and ravaged Italy.

The states of Western Europe were not united. Each of them broke up into large fiefs, which were divided into many small ones. In Germany, for example, there were about 200 small states. Some of them were so small that they jokingly said: “The head of the ruler, when he goes to bed, lies on his land, and his legs have to be pulled into the possessions of a neighbor.” It was a time of feudal fragmentation in Western Europe

Reasons for the fragmentation of Western Europe

Why were the states of Western Europe fragmented? With subsistence farming, there were not and could not be strong trade ties between individual parts of the country, there were no ties even between individual estates. In each estate, the population lived its own isolated life and had little contact with people from other places. People spent most of their lives in their village. Yes, they had no reason to go anywhere: after all, everything necessary was produced on the spot.

Each fief was almost an independent state. The feudal lord had a detachment of warriors, collected taxes from the population, performed judgment and reprisals on them. He himself could declare war on other feudal lords and make peace with them. Whoever owned the land had the power.

Large feudal lords - dukes and counts - had little regard for the king. They claimed that the king was only "first among equals", that is, they considered themselves no less noble than the king. Many large feudal lords themselves were not averse to seizing the royal throne.

The dominance of natural economy led to the fragmentation of the states of Western Europe. Royal power in the IX - X centuries. was very weak.

War between feudal lords

In times of fragmentation, the feudal lords continuously fought among themselves. These wars were called internecine wars
.

Why did internecine wars break out? The feudal lords sought to take away each other's land along with the peasants who lived on it. The more serfs the feudal lord had, the stronger and richer he was, since serfs were liable for the use of land.

Wishing to undermine the strength of his enemy, the feudal lord ruined his peasants: he burned villages, drove cattle, trampled crops.

The peasants suffered the most from internecine wars; the feudal lords could sit behind the strong walls of their castles.

feudal stairs

In order to have his own military detachment, each feudal lord distributed part of the land with serfs to smaller feudal lords. In relation to these feudal lords, the owner of the land was a lord (“senior”), and those who received land from him were his vassals, that is, military servants. Taking possession of the feud, the vassal knelt before the lord and took an oath of allegiance to him. As a sign of the transfer, the feudal lord handed over to the vassal a handful of earth and a tree branch.

The king was considered the head of all feudal lords in the country. He was the lord for dukes and counts.

In their possessions there were usually hundreds of villages, they disposed of large detachments of warriors.

A step below stood barons - vassals of dukes and earls. Usually they owned two or three dozen villages and could put up a detachment of warriors.

Barons were lords of petty feudal lords - knights.

Thus, the same feudal lord was the lord of a smaller feudal lord and a vassal of a larger one. Vassals were to obey only their lords. If they were not vassals of the king, then they were not obliged to follow his orders. This order was fixed by the rule: Vassal of my vassal is not my vassal».

Relations between feudal lords resemble a ladder, on the upper steps of which stand the largest feudal lords, on the lower steps - small ones. These relationships are called feudal stairs

The peasants did not enter the feudal ladder. And seigneurs, vassals were feudal lords. All of them - from the petty knight of the king - lived on the labor of serfs.

The vassal was obliged, by order of his lord, to go on a campaign with him and lead a detachment of soldiers. In addition, he had to help the lord with advice and redeem him from captivity.

The lord defended his vassals from the attacks of other feudal lords and from the rebellious peasants. If the peasants rebelled in the village of the knight, he sent a messenger to the seigneur, and he, with his detachment, hurried to his aid.

When a war broke out with another state, the entire feudal ladder, as it were, began to move. The king called for the campaign of dukes and counts, they turned to the barons, who led the detachments of knights. This is how the feudal army was created. But vassals often did not follow the orders of their lords. In such cases, only force could force them to obey.

During the period of fragmentation, the feudal ladder was the organization of the feudal class. With its help, the feudal lords waged wars and helped each other to keep the peasants in subjection.

Conclusion

Feudal fragmentation is a progressive phenomenon in the development of feudal relations. The collapse of the early feudal empires into independent principalities-kingdoms was an inevitable stage in the development of feudal society, whether it concerned Russia in Eastern Europe, France in Western Europe, or the Golden Horde in the East. Feudal fragmentation was progressive because it was the result of the development of feudal relations, the deepening of the social division of labor, which resulted in the rise of agriculture, the flourishing of handicrafts, and the growth of cities. For the development of feudalism, a different scale and structure of the state was needed, adapted to the needs and aspirations of the feudal lords.

Bibliography

Textbook. History of the Middle Ages. V.A. Vedyushkin. M "Enlightenment" 2009

2. History of the Middle Ages. M. Boytsov, R Shukurov. M.

"Miros", 1995

3.R.Yu.Viller Brief textbook of the history of the Middle Ages

1-2 parts M. School - Press, 1993

In the history of the early feudal states of Europe X-XII centuries. are a period of political fragmentation. By this time, the feudal nobility had already turned into a privileged group, belonging to which was determined by birth. The existing monopoly property of the feudal lords on land was reflected in the rules of law. The peasants found themselves for the most part in personal and land dependence on the feudal lords.

Having received a monopoly on land, the feudal lords also acquired significant political power: the transfer of part of their land to vassals, the right to litigate and mint money, the maintenance of their own military force, etc. In accordance with the new realities, a different hierarchy of feudal society is now taking shape, which has legal consolidation: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." Thus, the internal cohesion of the feudal nobility was achieved, its privileges were protected from encroachments by the central government, which was weakening by this time. For example, in France before the beginning of the XII century. the real power of the king did not extend beyond the domain, which was inferior in size to the possessions of many large feudal lords. The king, in relation to his immediate vassals, had only formal suzerainty, and large lords behaved independently. Thus began to take shape the foundations of feudal fragmentation.

On the territory that collapsed in the middle of the IX century. In the empire of Charlemagne, three new states arose: French, German and Italian (Northern Italy), each of which became the base of the emerging territorial-ethnic community - nationality. Then the process of political disintegration embraced each of these new formations. So, in the territory of the French kingdom at the end of the 9th century. there were 29 possessions, and at the end of the X century. - about 50. But now they were for the most part not ethnic, but patrimonial-seniorial formations.

The collapse of the early feudal territorial organization of state power and the triumph of feudal fragmentation represented the completion of the formation of feudal relations and the flourishing of feudalism in Western Europe. In its content, it was a natural and progressive process, due to the rise of internal colonization, the expansion of the area of ​​cultivated land. Thanks to the improvement of labor tools, the use of animal draft power and the transition to three-field cultivation, land cultivation improved, industrial crops began to be cultivated - flax, hemp; new branches of agriculture appeared - viticulture, etc. As a result, the peasants began to have surplus products that they could exchange for handicrafts, and not make them themselves.

The labor productivity of artisans increased, and the technique and technology of handicraft production improved. The craftsman turned into a small commodity producer working for trade. These circumstances led to the separation of craft from agriculture, the development of commodity-money relations, trade and the emergence of a medieval city. They became centers of crafts and trade.

As a rule, cities in Western Europe arose on the land of the feudal lord and therefore inevitably submitted to him. The townspeople, most of whom were mainly former peasants, remained in the land or personal dependence of the feudal lord. The desire of the townspeople to free themselves from dependence led to a struggle between cities and lords for their rights and independence. This movement, widely developed in Western Europe in the 10th-13th centuries, went down in history under the name of the "communal movement". All rights and privileges won or acquired for a ransom were recorded in the charter. By the end of the XIII century. many cities achieved self-government. So, about 50% of English cities had their own self-government, city council, mayor and court. The inhabitants of such cities in England, Italy, France, etc. became free from feudal dependence. A fugitive peasant who lived in the cities of these countries for a year and one day became free. Thus, in the XIII century. a new estate appeared - the townspeople - as an independent political force with its own status, privileges and liberties: personal freedom, jurisdiction of the city court, participation in the city militia. The emergence of estates that achieved significant political and legal rights was an important step towards the formation of estate-representative monarchies in the countries of Western Europe. This became possible thanks to the strengthening of the central government, first in England, then in France.

About the Verdun division of 843, when the empire of Charlemagne was divided among his grandsons, however, the title of emperor was preserved.

Compare the first and second information: what question do you have? Compare with the authors' version (p. 273).

Question: Why is the time from the 9th century called the period of fragmentation, if the empire was restored in the 10th century?

Answer: Formally, the empire was restored, but the feudal lords gained more and more power and ceased to obey their lords. At first, this happened with large feudal lords, and then even with many middlemen. Kings and emperors actually controlled only small territories, the rest of the lands were divided among smaller lords who constantly fought with each other.

Prove that a period of state fragmentation has begun in Western Europe. Have there been changes in other areas of society?

In 843, at Verdun, the empire was divided between the grandsons of Charlemagne into three parts. But the new rulers tried to leave the management system and other aspects of life unchanged. All these features of the state underwent changes slowly, being separated by state borders over the centuries of history.

Starting with the grandchildren of Charlemagne, his empire begins to disintegrate. But it was still a division into rather large parts, because it is not quite fragmentation. In addition, the owners of the beneficiaries had not yet turned into feudal lords - the kings or the emperor could still take away their lands for improper service.

What parts did the empire of Charlemagne break up into?

The empire broke up into the possessions of Lothair I, Louis (Ludwig) II of Germany and Charles II the Bald.

Compare with the map on p. 37, what states were formed on the site of the empire?

Considering that Lothair's possessions were soon divided between two other kingdoms, the West Frankish kingdom (the future France) and the East Frankish kingdom (the future Holy Roman Empire) arose on the site of the empire of Charlemagne.

Prove that a period of feudal fragmentation has begun in Western Europe.

The feudal lords received full power in their possessions: to judge subject people, to transfer land by inheritance, to transfer it to their own vassals. The right of kings and emperors to take land was usually only a sham. Most importantly, the feudal lords did not openly obey the monarchs and even went to war against them and against each other. In these wars, feudal fragmentation is most manifest.

Name her reasons.

Wars between pretenders to the throne. For example, in the West Frankish kingdom, there was a long struggle between two dynasties that claimed the royal title - the Carolingians and the Capetians. At the same time, the applicants bought the help of the feudal lords with more and more privileges.

Viking and Hungarian raids. The royal army often did not have time to come to repel the raid (and sometimes it was simply not up to the pretenders to the throne). Troops were needed on the ground, which could gather quickly and repel the attack. Gradually more and more rights flowed into the hands of those who could organize such a defense.

Make a conclusion about the problem of the lesson.

The combination of wars for the throne and barbarian raids strengthened the feudal lords so much that they were able to go against the power of the monarchs.

Try to find a European country where you could live safely from the raids of barbarian tribes.

Only the Caliphate of Cordoba was safe. The Vikings sometimes attacked its coasts, but received a worthy rebuff, therefore they rarely attacked and did not go deep into the mainland. The lands from which the raids came were not attacked - Scandinavia and Hungary. The map shows that no one attacked Poland, Croatia and Serbia, but information about these countries in the 10th century is so scarce that, perhaps, information about such raids has not been preserved. Otherwise, there is no reason why the Vikings and Hungarians could avoid them. All other countries were subjected to raids, and even conquests, either by the Vikings, or their descendants (I remember, first of all, the campaign of Svyatoslav Igorevich against Bulgaria), or by the Hungarians.

Which parts of Charlemagne's empire became an empire again in 962?

The empire united the lands of many Germanic tribes, as well as the kingdoms of Burgundy and Lombard.

Can the formation of the Holy Roman Empire be considered the re-creation of a single imperial state of the West?

You can't count like that. Firstly, it did not unite all the territories that were part of the empire of Charlemagne. Secondly, it pretty quickly actually broke up into the possessions of large feudal lords, the power of the emperor was weak and weakened even more by rivalry with the popes.

Make a conclusion about the problem of the lesson.

The proclamation of the restoration of the empire did not stop feudal fragmentation even in the empire itself.

Try to describe a dispute between an approximate king and a count - a large landowner, in which one will prove the need for a single state, and the other will object to him.

Such a dispute could be started by a supporter of the king with accusations against the count, who violated the feudal oath. To this, the supporter of the count would begin to say that the king was the first to violate the duties of a sovereign and therefore lost the right to the allegiance of his vassal.

After this, an argument from a supporter of the king about the raids of the Vikings and Hungarians could follow. In his opinion, as long as the kingdom was united, there were no such raids. A supporter of the count could cite many examples of this, when the royal troops went too slowly and it was the local counts who had to repel the raids.

A weak argument for a supporter of the king could be the benefits for trade, which was difficult to conduct when new borders had to be crossed every few kilometers. But he himself had to understand that a truly noble person, as participants in this dispute, did not care about trade, he cared about feats of arms and glory.

At that time, only the first pair of arguments were truly worthwhile. Because feudal law was relevant then. It painted when a vassal has the right to consider himself free from the oath, and when for its violation he is worthy of losing his fief.

Try to explain the difference in the concepts of state and feudal fragmentation. Check yourself in a dictionary.

With state fragmentation, a single state is divided into several, the ruler of each of them becomes a monarch. With feudal fragmentation, the state formally remains united, the feudal lords recognize the power of the monarch over themselves, again, formally, but in reality they do not obey him and even fight against him.

The states of Western Europe in the Middle Ages were not integral. Each represented several large feudal estates, 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 were said in jest that the head of the sleeping ruler was on his land, and his outstretched legs were in the possessions of his neighbor. It was an era of feudal fragmentation that captured

This topic will be of great interest not only to students, for whom it is summarized in the textbook “General History. Grade 6, as well as adults, who may have forgotten a little schoolwork.

Definition of the term

Feudalism is a political system that arose in the Middle Ages and operated on the territory of the then European states. Countries under this order of government were divided into areas called fiefs. These lands were distributed by monarchs-suzerains for long-term use to noble subjects - vassals. The owners, in whose administration the territories fell, were obliged to pay tribute to the state treasury every year, and also to send a certain number of knights and other armed warriors to the ruler's army. And for this, the vassals, in turn, not only received all the rights to use the land, but also could manage the labor and destinies of people who were considered their subjects.

The collapse of the empire

After the death of Charlemagne in 814, his successors failed to save the state he created from disintegration. And all the prerequisites and causes of feudal fragmentation began to appear precisely from the very moment when the Frankish nobles, or rather, the counts, who were officials of the empire, began to seize lands. At the same time, they turned the free population living there into their vassals and forced peasants.

The feudal lords owned estates, called seigneuries, which were actually closed farms. All the goods necessary for life were produced on their territories, from food to materials for the construction of castles - well-fortified structures where the owners of these lands themselves lived. It can be said that feudal fragmentation in Europe also arose thanks to such a subsistence economy, which contributes to the complete independence of the nobles.

Over time, the position of the count began to be inherited and was assigned to the largest landowners. They ceased to obey the emperor, and turned medium and small feudal lords into their vassals.

Treaty of Verdun

With the death of Charlemagne, quarrels begin in his family, which lead to real wars. At this time, the largest feudal lords begin to support them. But, finally tired of constant hostilities, in 843 the grandchildren of Charlemagne decided to meet in the city of Verdun, where they signed an agreement according to which the empire was divided into three parts.

In accordance with the agreement, one part of the land passed into the possession of Louis the German. He began to rule over the territory north of the Alps and east of the Rhine. This state was called East Frankish. German dialects were spoken here.

The second part was taken over by Karl, who bore the nickname Bald. These were lands located to the west of the rivers Rhone, Scheldt and Meuse. They became known as the West Frankish Kingdom. Languages ​​were spoken here that later formed the basis of modern French.

The third part of the land, along with the title of emperor, went to the eldest of the brothers - Lothair. He owned the territory located along as well as Italy. But soon the brothers quarreled, and war broke out between them again. Louis and Charles united against Lothair, took away his lands and divided them among themselves. At this time, the title of emperor meant almost nothing.

It was after the division of the former state of Charlemagne in Western Europe that the period of feudal fragmentation began. Subsequently, the possessions of the three brothers turned into countries that exist to this day - these are Italy, Germany and France.

Medieval European states

In addition to the empire of Charlemagne, there was another large European state. In 1066, the Duke of Normandy (a region located in northern France), who subjugated the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, united them and became the king of England. His name was William the Conqueror.

To the east of the German lands, such as the Czech Republic, Poland and Kievan Rus were already formed. And where the nomads who came here dominated, over time, the Kingdom of Hungary appeared. In addition, Sweden, Denmark and Norway emerged in the northern part of Europe. All these states were united for some time.

The collapse of medieval states

So what were the reasons for feudal fragmentation here? The reason for the collapse of the empires of that time was not only the civil strife of the rulers. As you know, the lands that were part of the state of Charlemagne were united by force of arms. Therefore, the reasons for feudal fragmentation also lie in the fact that there was an attempt to gather within the framework of one empire completely different peoples who did not want to live together. For example, the population of the West Frankish kingdom was called French, the East Frankish kingdom was called Germans, and the peoples living in Italy were called Italians. An interesting fact is that the very first documents compiled in the languages ​​​​of the peoples living here appeared precisely during the struggle for power of the grandchildren of Emperor Charlemagne. So, Louis the German signed a treaty, which stated that they vowed to oppose their elder brother Lothair together. These papers were drawn up in French and German.

The power of the nobles

The causes of feudal fragmentation in Europe largely depended on the actions of the counts and dukes, who were a kind of governors in various parts of the country. But over time, when they began to feel almost unlimited power, the feudal lords ceased to obey the main ruler. Now they served only the owners of the lands on whose territory their estates were located. At the same time, they reported directly to the duke or count, and even then only during hostilities, when they went on a campaign at the head of their own troops. When peace came, they were completely independent and ruled their lands and the people who inhabited them as they saw fit.

feudal stairs

In order to create their own army, dukes and earls gave away part of their territories to smaller landowners. Thus, some became seigneurs (chief), while others became their vassals (military servants). Entering into the rights of ownership of the feud, the vassal knelt before his liege and swore allegiance to him. In return, the master gave his subject a branch of a tree and a handful of earth.

The main feudal lord in the state was the king. He was considered a seigneur for counts and dukes. Their possessions included hundreds of villages and a large number of military units. One step below were the barons, who were vassals of counts and dukes. They usually owned no more than three dozen villages and a detachment of warriors. The small feudal lords-knights were subordinate to the barons.

As a result of the resulting hierarchy, a feudal lord with an average income was a lord for a small one, but at the same time he himself was a vassal for a larger noble. Therefore, a rather interesting situation developed. Those nobles who were not 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 is not my vassal."

Relations between the estates resembled a ladder, where on the lower steps were small feudal lords, and on the upper steps were larger ones headed by the king. It was this division that later became known as the feudal ladder. The peasants were not included in it, since all the lords and vassals lived off their labor.

Natural economy

The reasons for the feudal fragmentation of Western Europe also lay in the fact that the inhabitants of not only individual regions, but also villages, practically did not need any connections with other settlements. They could make all the necessary things, food and tools themselves or simply barter from their neighbors. At that time, there was just the heyday of subsistence farming, when trade itself ceased to exist.

Military policy

Feudal fragmentation, the causes and consequences of which had a significant impact on the military power of the royal army itself, could not only strengthen it, but also increase the authority of the central government in the eyes of large landowners. The feudal lords already by the tenth century managed to acquire their own squads. Therefore, the personal army of the king could not fully resist such vassals. In those days, the ruler of the state was only a conditional head of the entire then hierarchical system. In fact, the country was under the rule of nobles - dukes, barons and princes.

Causes of the collapse of European states

So, all the main causes of feudal fragmentation were identified in the process of studying the cultural and socio-economic development of the countries of Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Such a political system led to an upsurge in terms of material well-being, as well as a flourishing in the spiritual direction. Historians have come to the conclusion that feudal fragmentation was a completely natural and objective process. But this applies only to European countries.

Here are the causes of feudal fragmentation common to all states, without exception, briefly formulated in two paragraphs:

● Presence of subsistence farming. On the one hand, it ensured a rather sharp rise in prosperity and trade, as well as the rapid development of land ownership, and on the other hand, the complete absence of any specialization of individual regions and extremely limited economic ties with other lands.

● Settled way of life of the squad. In other words, the transformation of its members into feudal lords, whose privilege was the right to own land. In addition, their power over the peasant class was unlimited. They had the opportunity to judge people and punish them for various offenses. This caused some weakening of the influence of the policy of the central government on certain territories. There were also prerequisites for the successful solution of military tasks by the forces of the local population.

Feudal fragmentation of Russian lands

The processes taking place in Western Europe since the 10th century could not bypass the principality where the Eastern Slavs lived. But it should be noted that the causes of feudal fragmentation in Russia were of a special nature. This can be explained by other socio-economic trends, as well as local customs of succession to the throne.

The division of the state into principalities was due to the great influence enjoyed by the local nobility, called the boyars. In addition, they owned huge land plots and supported the local princes. And instead of submitting to the Kyiv authorities, they agreed among themselves.

Succession of thrones

As in Europe, feudal fragmentation began with the fact that the numerous heirs of the rulers could not share power. If in Western countries the Salic right of succession to the throne was in force, which required the transfer of the throne from father to eldest son, then in Russian lands the Lestviche right was in effect. It provided for the transfer of power from an older brother to a younger one, etc.

Numerous offspring of all the brothers grew up, and each of them wanted to rule. Over time, the situation became more complicated, and the pretenders to the throne constantly and tirelessly weaved intrigues against each other.

The first serious contention was a military conflict between the heirs of Prince Svyatoslav, who died in 972. The winner of it was his son Vladimir, who later baptized Russia. The collapse of the state began after the reign of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, who died in 1132. After that, feudal fragmentation continued until the lands began to unite around Moscow.

Reasons for the fragmentation of Russian lands

The process of fragmentation of Kievan Rus covers the period from the XII to the beginning of the XIV century. In this era, the princes waged long and bloody internecine wars for the expansion of land ownership.

Here are the most important causes of feudal fragmentation, briefly and clearly formulated in four points, which are valid only in Russia:

● Strengthening internecine struggle due to two trends that existed in the rules of succession to the throne of Kyiv. One of them is Byzantine law, which allows the transfer of power from father to eldest son, the second is Russian custom, according to which the eldest in the family should become the heir.

● Significant weakening of the role of Kyiv as a central authority. This was due to the raids of the Polovtsy, who made the journey along the Dnieper dangerous, as a result of which the outflow of the population from Kyiv to the northwest began.

● Significant weakening of the threat from the Pechenegs and Varangians, as well as the defeat and establishment of relations with the rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

● Creation of specific system by Yaroslav the Wise. After his death in 1054, the Russian lands were swallowed up by a whole series of internecine wars. The ancient Russian integral state was transformed from a one-man monarchy into a federal one, which began to be headed by several authoritative princes of Yaroslavich at once.

We hope that this article has helped to supplement the knowledge of not only schoolchildren who are now studying the topic “Causes of feudal fragmentation” in the textbook “General History. 6th grade". It will refresh in the memory of university students the events that took place in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, such a topic as feudal fragmentation, the causes and consequences of which we have described in sufficient detail, you see, is quite interesting.

Over time, large feudal lords, who received land from the kings in conditional possession, secured them for themselves. Now they could transfer land by inheritance of their own free will and not obey their lords. At the same time, the feudal lords relied on their own vassals and became complete masters in their lands. The book of medieval laws said:

“In the remotest time, it depended on the power of the masters, when it pleased them to take away the feud given by them. After that, they came to the conclusion that the feud was an integral year. Then it was established that the feud held throughout the life of the vassal. But since the feud did not pass to the sons by right of inheritance, then they came to the conclusion that he began to pass to the sons.

The power of the kings gradually weakened. They were no longer able to cope with all the rebellious vassals striving for independence. The dominance of subsistence farming also contributed to the isolation of individual parts of the state. It made each large feudal estate independent and independent from the rest of the state, since everything that was needed was produced within itself. A long period has begun feudal fragmentation.material from the site

The changes that took place in Western Europe testified that by the 10th century feudal relations were taking shape in it. Their distinguishing features were: the formation of the estates of medieval society - feudal lords and peasants; the formation of the "feudal ladder"; dominance of subsistence farming.

On this page, material on the topics:

• Causes of feudal fragmentation in Western Europe in the Middle Ages

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• Abstract of the causes of feudal fragmentation.

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