Hospitalitas: Barbarian settlements and constitutional foundations of medieval Europe
Andrew T. Young
Abstract A rough balance of political power between monarchs and a militarized landed aristocracy characterized medieval Western Europe. Scholars have argued that this contributed to tradition limited government constitutional bargaining. I argue 5 th - 6th-century barbarian settlements created foundation for power. The provided barbarians with allotments lands or taxes due from the lands. served align incentives warriors Roman landowners, realign their leadership elite. Barbarian military forces became decentralized powerful shareholders realm.
Journal of Institutional Economics