Kings and knights
Richard W. Kaeuper
During the age of chivalry, kings and great lords (and urban communal governing bodies) were busily extending their reach (Figure 9). They expanded administrative structures, increased flow legislation, bolstered law enforcement, financial exaction within societies producing new forms deposits wealth. The kingdom Sicily, where Richard Lion-Heart may have seen a draft Chanson d'Aspremont (quoted in introduction to this part) while on crusade, provides good case point, as more famously did Richard's own territories continent his England with its central royal court, gyroscope exchequer, itinerant justices circuit throughout realm, emerging methods taxation that produced appreciable results. French under fellow crusader bitter rival Philip II (Augustus) another point territorial acquisitions advances justice finance. Such processes either side Channel generated what Joseph Strayer termed “the medieval origins modern state.” And they can be found south Pyrenees well, if slightly later chronology. Thirteenth-century Castile witnessed move toward centralization political power, especially Alfonso X (r. 1252–1284). Evidence includes not only book, Siete Partidas, but also beginning appointment corregidores – officials appointed at local level oversee meting out justice, some control over use armed force, general oversight administration. If conditions mixed complex east Rhine north Alps, regional powers still developed growing towns lay ecclesiastical lordships. It is least interesting note Wolfram von Eschenbach Parzifal pictured King Arthur prohibiting knights from undertaking any joust without permission.
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