The Aristocracy in ‘Carolingian’ England
Peter Coss
Chapter 9 argues that late Anglo-Saxon England was a state of the ‘Carolingian’ type. Lordship fully integrated into judicial system and public authority played major part in legitimating comital rule. Traditional historiography is complemented by concepts <italic>aristocrazia intermedia</italic> ‘zonality’ employed Cortese for Tuscany. We examine aristocracy some Midland counties, with Leofric earl Mercia taken as case study exercise power. follow Maitland Baxter emphasizing tripartite division personal bonds, tenurial bonds. The chapter turns then to rank file aristocracy, thegnage, aristocratic presence towns. Finally, looks at direction which this society travelling eleventh century sees an increasing degree uncertainty, competition, anxiety. There relative decline <italic>Königsnähe</italic> localization power kings weakened.
Oxford University Press eBooks