The Carolignian Experiment - EF James
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• By 843 clear Carolingian experiment to create a unified monarchy and Church administered by a united and loyal aristocracy had failed – arisot. Local ambitions and interests more compelling than public interest.
• Know a lot about aspirations and endeavors of local government, don’t know a lot about those whose business it was to implement them. Do give us some clue as to why policy failed.
• Major factor in continued success of war which bought booty, offices and lands in conquered territories.
• Austrasian aristocracy, supports of dynasty since days of Charles Martel.
• Guidones and unrochids are representatives of more prominent aristocratic families, also supported aristocratic families in new territories, in Gaul aristocracy appears to have caused little trouble for Pippin and Charlemagne, reward important but so was strength of personality – Charlemagne great energy and strength – dominates and controls his aristocrats, does not distance himself from arsitos – marries into aristocratic families, unlike Merovingian married foreigners of slaves – like Dagobert sons aristos. Educated at court, summons them to court for councils and assemblies – at Aachen swam every day and invited important people to swim with him. Charlemagne’s joviality and accessibility were two of his most important assets.
• Aqutianians bitter enemies of Carolingians mayors and Kings – chronicle say successful bot may only have gone a few miles into the kingdom with a bit of plunder and loot.
• Aquitaine after possible collaboration with Gascons – not only occasion when one peoples subject to Franks in Gaul took as their leaders as family established in power by the Franks themselves.
• Most independently minded regna were given their own kings – 781 Pippin anointed King of Italy, Louis king of Aqutiaine
• Charlemagne’s main problem not suppression of active rebellion but ensuring that his aristocracy ruled kingdom justly and in obedience to his basic commands.
• Counties system of administration, land under jurisdiction gave revenue to the count, and soon became a hereditary right, made sure counts did not acquire additional counties to increase their power, kept them close taking them to court or on campaigns – missi look after counts.
• Oaths of loyalty and becoming King’s vassal – acting as lord, thus disloyalty not only perjury but sacrilege, king’s vassals act as watchdogs in provinces
• Context of vassalage the reward, or counter gist was usually land, could be revoked if vassal failed in his obligations, could be from own land, or prevail upon bishops and abbots to provide ecclesiastical land to do it.
• Became hereditary and treated as their own possessions – vassalage a personal bond between men, not a distant, abstract, legal relationship – value weakened if King, like Luis in infancy or Charlemagne less active in old age. Louis the Stammered 877 tried to revoke all benefices and redistribute them to own supporters – such vociferous opposition plan abandoned.
• Capitulary 789 preserves a formula for the oath taken by all free men – did these oaths and vassals preserve the Carolingian empire, collapse of Empire inherit in the system, too much local power given to aristocracy without adequate safeguards – or was it crisis in the structure of leadership at the very top which enabled weaknesses to show themselves.
• Carolingian Empire not a political unit like the Roman one, survival empire accident of creation also accident continuation – if all sons had lived no one would have been emperor.
• Louis the Pious only surviving son, coronation as emperor last year of Charlemagne’s death Empire destined to survive. – Strengthened by those wishing to see empire as more than over lordship – Charlemagne dates things from empire, refers to roman empire, Clerics, imperial officials inspired offered suggestions whereby a measure of unification might be given to miscellaneous institutions.
• Opposition to imperialists: aristocracy dislike change and loss privileges, Louis the Younger’s sons who justifiably feared disinheritance.
• 817 aachen great men of empire come

Other Notes in this Category

1. Basis of Power
2. Carolignian Geneaology
3. Carolignians and Italy
4. Chronological Analysis
5. Church
6. Communications
7. Did growth lead to a more systematic style of government?
8. Domestic government and power bases
9. Ideology of Power
10. Importance of the West 814 - 898
11. Kingship and Royal Government - Janet Nelson
12. Logistics of Power
13. Nobility and Expansion Dynamic
14. Nobility and Expansion Dynamic - Effect on surrounding peoples
15. Plunder and Tribute in the Carolignian Empire
16. Society and Politics
17. Sociology of Power
18. The Carolignian Experiment - EF James
19. Vikings

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