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Did the growth of territory under a single authority lead to a more systematic and cerebral approach to govt.?
YES (e.g. Boussard)
- Growing importance of written govt. (more edicts since time of Pippin); innovative institutions (royal agents etc.). Backed up by ecc backing given to royal authority, all à pol structure harking back to Roman world. Also imitated culture / titles, sense of public authority. No tax system, but ties of loyalty / rel mandate à officers obliged to perform public duty.
NO (e.g. Reuter)
- Good intentions expressed in capitularies (govt. edicts) may not nec have been put into practice. Court records indicate no judicial reform - no evidence for effectiveness of jobs like that of missi. Plunder and tribute sustained Car growth. End of expansion à
magnates fought each other instead of using collective strength v. outsiders.
- difficult to calculate profitability of war. Saxons poor. War not preserve of the élite.
- CONSIDER that documents generally reflect revival of intellectual and rel activity in conjunction with growth in royal power.
- e.g. church reform directed at moral welfare of the subject. Standardisation and co-ordination of rel / cult life strengthened state hegemony. 794 Synod of Frankfurt decreed that no new saints were to be venerated - contrast with c.700 est of new cults to reinforce local independence and noble influence.
- Hence single authority replaced disintegrating confederation of Mer period. Yet custom outweighed innovation. Power on the ground still in hands of counts / bishops who preserved soc order by protecting property. Franks could mobilise massive power.
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