France in the Making 843–1180
Jean Dunbabin
Covering the centuries between disintegration of Carolingian empire and rise French monarchy, this book traces long period gestation that ended with emergence kingdom France as a recognizable political entity capable inspiring loyalty its peoples. It describes in late ninth tenth principalities lesser units which personal qualities or resources rulers permitted them to command obedience. In eleventh century, threat fragmentation led princes establish sounder theoretical foundations for their authority legal administrative procedures. The twelfth-century kings France, hitherto little more than Ile-de-France, exploited state-building activities re-establish own lordship over all princes, counts, bishops within realm. At same time, they contrived identify themselves subjects, imaginations dawning sense community. By 1180, was firmly established, both on map Europe minds inhabitants.