Castles, castellans and the structure of politics in Poitou, 1152– 1271
Robert Hajdu
By the middle of twelfth century Poitou had been divided into small units local control, known as castellanies. A castellany was territory surrounding a castle; within it castellan exercised military, judicial and economic powers. Between 1152 1271 control castles in experienced development three stages, moving from single-castellany holdings by province's fifty leading families via regional lordships pieced together four these to country-wide hegemony count. The progressive consolidation castle-holding corresponded political life. chaotic conditions second half were replaced leadership lords after 1200, which turn gave way unchallenged authority count 1242. logic this tripartite explains achievement Alphonse Poitiers, 1241, turning region chronic turbulence well-governed country. This paper emphasizes role bridge between extreme fragmentation effective centralization.
Journal of Medieval History