Peace and Power in France Around the Year 1000
Thomas Head
Chapter 1Peace and Power in France Around the Year 1000 Thomas Head During difficult dynastic social dislocations of late tenth early eleventh centuries, members ecclesiastical secular hierarchies tried to balance a desire for God's peace with harsh reality exactions lordship, both lay clerical, their society. The "peace" question here is Peace God. It was movement, or perhaps better group associated regional movements, begun by bishops other churchmen curb violence, particularly that directed against church its property. These movements began 980s continued through 1040s, when they were transformed into more formal legal institution known as "Truce God," which adopted far widely than original movements. Those had flourished within so-called "hexagon" modern France, well Catalonia, although these regions varying forms allegiance Capetian kings west Franks during period under discussion. "power" most simply contemporary terms bannum, right coerce.1 And let me hastily add juxtaposition "simply" "lordship" an act almost unforgivable scholarly hubris. Lordship exercise power at fundamental practical level. from monolithic form function, but varied according local circumstances continually contested. This subject center historiographical minefield. Over past two decades consensus on my chosen topic has changed orthodoxy built upon work Marc Bloch, Georges Duby, Jean-François Lemarignier cacophony questions. older that, rule Hugh Capet his successors new dynasty, Frankish realm neighbors (that roughly Catalonia) witnessed radical change. devolved royal principes "leading men," fundamentally altering lordship. [End Page 1] changes created peculiar "regime-without-a-state" feudalism. convenient, if somewhat extreme, summary this published Jean-Pierre Poly Eric Bournazel title La mutation féodale.2 context Richard Landes myself edited volume essays God, 1992.3 That same year, review Dominique Barthélemy second edition Bournazel's signaled beginning furious contest over various aspects inherited orthodoxy.4 debates have been largely phrased binary terms: change revolutionary merely slow evolution; violence wrenched society unprecedented degree it greatly exaggerated surviving sources clerical rhetoric voiced unsympathetic lords; apocalyptic expectations enlivened religious fervor anticipation millennial anniversaries events Christ's life such apocalypticism virtually nowhere be found.5 extremes orthodoxies, place God them, are currently defined, one hand, Barthélemy, who sees novel end ephemeral development socio-political continuity, and, R. I. Moore crucial element First European Revolution.6 What then did do rulership lordship around year 1000? Gerd Althoff argued "[The king] primarily responsible (pax) justice (iustitia)."7 hardly unusual quoted example trope: many historians medieval monarchy made similar claims. Such statements, however, elide historical developments. Carolingian authors frequently exploited language Old Testament Books Kings ("the Lord . hath appointed thee king, judgment justice") emphasize provision the...
Essays in Medieval Studies