The Foundations of Royal Power in Early Medieval Germany
David S. Bachrach
The Ottonians were the most powerful monarchs in Europe during tenth and early eleventh century, exercising hegemony West Francia, Burgundy, much of Italy addition to ruling German realm. Despite their enormous political military success, however, foundations Ottonian royal power remain highly contested largely misunderstood, with previous scholarship tending have considered it as depending upon ability king shape harness nobles. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This study challenges dominant historiographical paradigm, rebutting notion putative power-sharing between nobility, which simply did not exist a legal class century. Rather, argues that under comprised only own wealth, but also unique authority ability, through ‘bannum’ inherent office king, make use economic resources labour broad free population realm, well from Church. In so doing, drew further developed administrative, institutional, ideological inheritance Carolingian predecessors, process creating polity tenth-century Europe.