Question

How did feudal monarchs in the High Middle Ages centralize power?

Answer 1

The feudal monarchs of the High Middle Ages centralized power with the alliance between the commercial bourgeoisie and the king.

Step-by-step explanation:

Political power in the feudal era was decentralized, that is, distributed among the great landowners (the feudal lords). Despite the fragmentation of political power, there was the bond of personal fidelity between vassalage and feudal lord.

However, the kings sought to centralize political power and the class of feudal lords represented their main obstacle. To assert his authority, it was necessary to create an army of mercenaries. Thus, the commercial bourgeoisie starts to finance the assembly of this army. The king begins to overcome the feudal lord and impose his will. This made possible the centralization of political power, which implied economic unification: standardization of weights, measures and monetary - encouraging trade. The Monarchy begins to create the Trade Companies, where the monopoly of commercial activity will be borne by the bourgeoisie.

Answer 2

During the High Middle Ages, feudal monarchs centralized their power by creating a justice system with lords and vassals who had to accomplish certain obligations. The lords and vassals held a feudal contract with the king. All land was owned by the king, but it was held by lords and vassals in return of military, judicial and administrative services.

Besides, the monarchs established a government bureaucracy where the government officials were not elected. It was a feudal system of government where the greater nobles gave part of their lands to lesser nobles and vassals or knights in return of military assistance in case of revolt or any other kind of attack. By doing so, the monarch remained safe by a standing army in all his kingdom.