The years 1000 to
1500 saw the
gradual extension
and consolidation
of the power of
the
French
kings ,
accompanied by the
growth of a
centralized
administrative
system and
bureaucracy. These
factors also
determined their
foreign policy,
which was chiefly
concerned with
restricting papal
interference in
French affairs and
checking the
English kings'
continuing
involvement in
French territory.
While progress
towards these
goals was
remarkably steady
and single-minded,
there were
setbacks,
principally in the
seesawing fortunes
of the conflict
with the English.
Surrounded by
vassals much
stronger than
themselves, Hugues
Capet and his
successors
remained weak
throughout the
eleventh century,
though they made
the most of their
feudal rights. As
dukes of the
French, counts of
Paris and anointed
kings, they
enjoyed a prestige
their vassals
dared not offend -
not least because
that would have
set a precedent of
disobedience for
their own lesser
vassals.
At the
beginning of the
twelfth century,
having
successfully tamed
his own vassals in
the Île-de-France,
Louis VI had a
stroke of luck. Eleanor
, daughter of the
powerful duke of
Aquitaine, was
left in his care
on her father's
death, so he
promptly married
her off to his
son, the future
Louis VII.
Unfortunately,
the marriage ended
in divorce and
immediately, in
1152, Eleanor
married Henry of
Normandy, shortly
to become Henry
II of England.
Thus the English
crown gained
control of a huge
chunk of French
territory,
stretching from
the Channel to the
Pyrenees. Though
their fortunes
fluctuated over
the ensuing three
hundred years, the
English rulers
remained a
perpetual thorn in
the side of the
French kings, with
a dangerous
potential for
alliance with any
rebellious French
vassals.
Philippe
Auguste
(1179-1223) made
considerable
headway in
undermining
English rule by
exploiting the
bitter relations
between Henry II
and his three
sons, one of whom
was Richard the
Lionheart. But he
fell out with
Richard when they
took part in the Third
Crusade
together. Luckily,
Richard died
before he was able
to claw back
Philippe's gains,
and by the end of
his reign Philippe
had recovered all
of Normandy and
the English
possessions north
of the Loire.
For the first
time, the royal
lands were greater
than those of any
other French lord.
The foundations of
a systematic
administration and
civil service had
been established
in Paris ,
and Philippe had
firmly and quietly
marked his
independence from
the papacy by
refusing to take
any interest in
the crusade
against the
heretic Cathars of
Languedoc. When
Languedoc and
Poitou came under
royal control in
the reign of his
son Louis VIII,
France was by far
the greatest power
in western Europe.
