The Military Origins of Medieval Representation
Thomas N. Bisson
AMONG the circumstances that attended formation of parliamentary institutions in Middle Ages, one seldom hears militarism or military organization. The prevailing understanding comprises such factors as persistence feudal traditions counsel and law, emergence an urban class, revival Roman legal principles public responsibility representation, ever more urgent financial needs expanding governments. It is not my purpose to reject this pattern explanation. On contrary, I should like for present assume it generally satisfactory. But seems me has been unduly neglected accounting rise consultative government be investigated a fundamental condition which well-known causes may related. Fortunately there have some prospectors domain; problem, while neglected, passed unnoticed. will appear discussion owes much suggestions contributions made by William Stubbs, J. H. Round, E. A. Jolliffe, Michael Powicke, other authorities. underestimation aspects origins perhaps attributed tendency view developments High Ages anachronistically. In recent times representative come regarded incompatible with militarist rule. Ordinary affairs state are usually distinguished sharply from what we think extraordinary war. Yet hardly open doubt European representation arose society different sort: that, notwithstanding considerable advances social objectives politicaladministrative techniques, remained organized primarily Even England, its exceptionally progressive institutional life, those who ruled were still thirteenth century mainly fought. Those ruled, moreover, thought fundamentally terms. Landholding, obligations society, privileges long con-
The American Historical Review