TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Society and Politics
- Practical politics a different ball game. Importance of kinship + dynastic hold; basis for political relationships and inheritance. Social duties.
- Importance of women- link men, peace-weavers, focus of court interest groups. Critical nature of marriage alliances. Focus for loyalties (e.g. Charlemagnes marriage to Hildegard served to assuage Alemannic resentment at Carolingian takeover). Needed by kings - key role in running household.
- Conflict between rival dynastic branches à vulnerability to rivals. Importance of names in indicating legitimacy. Charles the Bald tried to exclude legitimate heirs by tonsuring them. Neither effective bar - Arnulf became king of E Francia 887 despite illegitimacy
- Sons of Charlemagne + Louis the Pious resented fathers interference (e.g. Louis redrew boundaries of sub-kingdoms).
- Kings had unique Palace entourage - e.g. Adalhard 840s; years of influence under Louis the Pious à so influential that Charles married his niece. Adalhard became potens through proximity to the ruler. Owed much to royal favour, but ploughed it back into their social influence - could be trusted to further royal interests. Kings kept control.
- Court full of young nobles - learning soc/ pol / mil skills / networking. Also young non-nobles and clerics; king had access to various social groups.
- Kingship + lordship went together + reinforced each other.
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