Medieval German Social History: Generalizations and Particularism
John B. Freed
EIKE von Repgow commented around 1225 in the Sachsenspiegel : “Now do not be amazed that this book says so little about law of ministerials. It is fact diverse no one can fully comprehend it. Under every bishop, abbot, and abbess ministerials have a distinct law; therefore, I cannot describe it.” Eike identified here fundamental problem studying German social history: how does generalize institutions were both cause consequence Germany's political fragmentation? How different things could illustrated by structure estates eastern Alpine principalities. In duchies Austria Styria nobility was divided into two estates, lords knights; but while there seventy or eighty families lordly rank 1280, few lineages Styria—about twenty-five 1300, whom only ten survived 1400—that they meet themselves.
Central European History