The era of feudal fragmentation in Europe, the distinctive features of feudalism in Russian lands. Feudal fragmentation in Europe (IX-XI centuries.)

In the history of early feudal states of Europe of the X-XII centuries. are a period of political fragmentation. By this time, the feudal nobility had already turned into a privileged group, belonging to which was determined by birth. The existing monopoly property of the feudal lords on land was reflected in the rule of law. "There is no land without a lord." The peasants were mostly in personal and land dependence on the feudal lords.

Having gained a monopoly on the land, the feudal lords also acquired significant political power: the transfer of part of their land to vassals, the right to legal proceedings and coinage of money, the maintenance of their own military power, etc. In accordance with the new realities, a different hierarchy of feudal society now has a legal basis: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." Thus, the internal cohesion of the feudal nobility was achieved, its privileges were protected from encroachments by the central government, which was weakening by this time. For example, in France before the beginning of the XII century. the real power of the king did not extend beyond the domain, which in size was inferior to the possessions of many large feudal lords. The king, in relation to his immediate vassals, possessed only formal suzerainty, and the large lords behaved completely independently. Thus, the foundations of feudal fragmentation began to take shape.

It is known that on the territory of the disintegrated in the middle of the IX century. the empire of Charlemagne, three new states arose: French, Germanic and Italian (Northern Italy), each of which became the basis of the emerging territorial-ethnic community - nationality. Then the process of political disintegration swept each of these new formations. So, in the French kingdom at the end of the IX century. There were 29 possessions, and at the end of the tenth century. - about 50. But now they were mostly not ethnic, but patrimonial-seignorial formations.

The process of feudal fragmentation in the X-XII centuries. began to develop in England. This was facilitated by the transfer by the royal authority of the nobility of the right to collect feudal duties from peasants and their lands. As a result, the feudal lord (secular or church), who received such an award, becomes the full owner of the land occupied by the peasants and their personal master. The private property of the feudal lords grew, they became economically stronger and strove for greater independence from the king.

The situation changed after England in 1066 was conquered by the Norman Duke William the Conqueror. As a result, a country marching towards feudal fragmentation turned into a united state with strong monarchical power. On the European continent at this time this is the only example.

The fact was that the conquerors deprived many representatives of the former nobility of their possessions, conducting a massive confiscation of land ownership. The king became the actual owner of the land, who transferred part of it as flax to his warriors and parts of local feudal lords who expressed their readiness to serve it. But these possessions were now in different parts of England. An exception was only a few counties, which were located on the outskirts of the country and were intended for the defense of border areas. The dispersion of feudal estates (130 large vassals had land in 2-5 counties, 29 in 6-10 counties, 12 in 10-21 counties), private return to the king served as an obstacle to the transformation of barons into independent landowners, as it were, for example, in France.

The development of medieval Germany was characterized by a certain peculiarity. Until the XIII century. it was one of the most powerful states in Europe. And then here the process of internal political fragmentation begins to develop rapidly, the country breaks up into a number of independent associations, while other Western European countries embarked on the path of state unity. The fact is that the German emperors in order to maintain their power over dependent countries needed the military assistance of the princes and were forced to make concessions to them. Thus, while in other European countries the royal power deprived the feudal nobility of its political privileges, in Germany the process of legislative consolidation of the highest state rights for princes developed. As a result, imperial power gradually lost its position and became dependent on large secular and church feudal lords.

In addition, in Germany, despite the rapid development already in the X century. cities (the result of the separation of crafts from agriculture) did not work out, as was the case in England, France and other countries, an alliance between the royal power and cities. Therefore, German cities could not play an active role in the political centralization of the country. And finally, in Germany, like England or France, a single economic center was not formed, which could become the core of a political union. Each principality lived apart. With the strengthening of princely power, the political and economic fragmentation of Germany intensified.

In Byzantium to the beginning of the XII century. the formation of the basic institutions of feudal society was completed, feudal estates were formed, and the bulk of the peasants were already in land or personal dependence. The imperial power, presenting wide privileges to secular and church feudal lords, facilitated their transformation into omnipotent patrimonies, who had the apparatus of judicial and administrative power and armed squads. It was the emperors' pay to the feudal lords for their support and service.

The development of crafts and trade led at the beginning of the XII century. to a fairly rapid growth of Byzantine cities. But unlike Western Europe, they did not belong to individual feudal lords, but were under the rule of a state that did not seek an alliance with the townspeople. Byzantine cities did not achieve, like Western European, self-government. Citizens, subjected to severe fiscal exploitation, were thus forced to fight not with the feudal lords, but with the state. Strengthening the position of feudal lords in cities, establishing their control over the trade and sale of manufactured products, undermined the welfare of merchants and artisans. With the weakening of imperial power, the feudal lords became sovereign masters in the cities.

Increased tax oppression led to frequent uprisings that weakened the state. At the end of the XII century. the empire began to fall apart. This process accelerated after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the crusaders. The empire fell, and the Latin empire and several other states formed on its ruins. And although in 1261 the Byzantine state was restored again (it happened after the fall of the Latin Empire), but the former power was no longer there. This continued until the fall of Byzantium under the blows of the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

The collapse of the early feudal territorial organization of state power and the triumph of feudal fragmentation represented the completion of the formation of feudal relations and the flourishing of feudalism in Western Europe. In terms of content, it was a logical and progressive process, due to the rise of internal colonization, expansion of the area of \u200b\u200bcultivated land. Thanks to the improvement of tools, the use of draft animals and the transition to a three-field, land cultivation improved, industrial crops began to be bred - flax, hemp; new branches of agriculture appeared - viticulture, etc. As a result, the peasants began to have surplus products that they could exchange for handicrafts, rather than make them themselves.

The labor productivity of artisans increased, and the technique and technology of craft production improved. The artisan turned into a small commodity producer working for a trade exchange. Ultimately, these circumstances led to the separation of crafts from agriculture, the development of commodity-money relations, trade and the emergence of a medieval city. They became centers of craft and commerce.

As a rule, cities in Western Europe arose on the land of the feudal lord and therefore inevitably obeyed him. The townspeople, most of whom were mostly former peasants, remained in the land or personal dependence of the feudal lord. The desire of citizens to free themselves from such dependence led to a struggle between cities and seniors for their rights and independence. This movement, widely developed in Western Europe in the X-XIII centuries. went down in history under the name of “communal movement”. All rights or privileges won or acquired as a ransom are entered into the charter. By the end of the XIII century. many cities achieved self-government, became communal cities. So, about 50% of English cities had their own self-government, city council, mayor and their own court. Residents of such cities of England, Italy, France, etc. became free from feudal dependence. A runaway peasant who lived in the cities of the named countries for a year and a day became free. Thus, in the XIII century. a new estate appeared - the townspeople - as an independent political force with its status, privileges and liberties: personal freedom, jurisdiction of the city court, participation in the city militia. The emergence of estates that achieved significant political and legal rights was an important step towards the formation of estate-representative monarchies in Western Europe. This was made possible thanks to the strengthening of central authority, first in England, then in France.

The development of commodity-money relations and the involvement of the village in this process undermined subsistence farming and created the conditions for the development of the domestic market. The feudal lords, trying to increase their incomes, began to transfer the land to the peasants in hereditary holding, reduced the landlord, encouraged internal colonization, eagerly accepted the runaway peasants, settled the uncultivated land with them and provided them with personal freedom. The estates of the feudal lords were also drawn into market relations. These circumstances led to a change in the forms of feudal rent, the weakening, and then the complete elimination of personal feudal dependence. Quickly enough, this process took place in England, France, Italy.

The development of public relations in Kievan Rus follows, perhaps, in the same scenario. The onset of a period of feudal fragmentation fits into the framework of the pan-European process. As in Western Europe, tendencies towards political fragmentation in Russia appeared early. Already in the X century. after the death of Prince Vladimir in 1015, a power struggle erupts between his children. However, a single Old Russian state lasted until the death of Prince Mstislav (1132). It is from this time that historical science counts the feudal fragmentation in Russia.

What are the causes of this phenomenon? What contributed to the fact that the unified state of the Rurikovich quickly disintegrated into many large and small principalities? There are many such reasons.

We single out the most important of them.

The main reason is the change in the nature of relations between the Grand Duke and his warriors as a result of the settling of warriors on the ground. In the first century and a half of the existence of Kievan Rus, the squad was completely kept by the prince. The prince, as well as his state apparatus, collected tribute and other requisitions. As the combatants received land and received from the prince the right to collect taxes and duties themselves, they came to the conclusion that the income from military robbery production was less reliable than the fees from peasants and townspeople. In the XI century. intensified the process of "settling" squads on the ground. And from the first half of the XII century. in Kievan Rus, patrimony becomes the predominant form of ownership, the owner of which could dispose of it at his discretion. And although the possession of the estates imposed on the feudal lord the obligation to perform military service, his economic dependence on the grand duke was significantly weakened. The income of former feudal warriors no longer depended on the grace of the prince. They themselves provided for their existence. With the weakening of economic dependence on the Grand Duke, political dependence is also weakening.

A significant role in the process of feudal fragmentation in Russia was played by the developing institute of feudal immunity, providing for a certain level of sovereignty of the feudal lord within the borders of his patrimony. In this territory, the feudal lord had the rights of the head of state. The Grand Duke and his authorities did not have the right to act in this territory. The feudal lord himself collected taxes, duties, and adjudicated. As a result, the state apparatus, squad, courts, prisons, etc. are formed in independent principalities-estates, the individual princes begin to dispose of the communal lands, transfer them on their behalf to the power of the boyars and monasteries. Thus, local princely dynasties are formed, and local feudal lords make up the court and squad of this dynasty. Of great importance in this process was the introduction of the institution of heredity on the earth and the people living in it. Under the influence of all these processes, the nature of relations between local principalities and Kiev has changed. Relationships of political partners, sometimes in the form of equal allies, sometimes overlordship and vassal, are replacing official dependence.

All these economic and political processes in political terms meant the fragmentation of power, the collapse of the former centralized statehood of Kievan Rus. This collapse, as was the case in Western Europe, was accompanied by internecine wars. Three most influential states were formed on the territory of Kievan Rus: the Vladimir-Suzdal principality (North-Eastern Russia), the Galician-Volyn principality (South-Western Russia) and Novgorod land (North-Western Russia). Both within these principalities, and between them, fierce clashes took place for a long time, destructive wars that weakened the power of Russia, led to the destruction of cities and villages.

Foreign conquerors did not fail to take advantage of this circumstance. The uncoordinated actions of the Russian princes, the desire to achieve victory over the enemy at the expense of others, while maintaining their army, the lack of a single command led to the first defeat of the Russian army in the battle with the Tatar-Mongols on the Kalka River on May 31, 1223. Serious disagreements between the princes, which did not allow they act as a united front in the face of the Tatar-Mongol aggression, led to the capture and destruction of Ryazan (1237). In February 1238, the Russian militia was defeated on the River Cit, and Vladimir and Suzdal were captured. In October 1239, Chernigov was besieged and captured, in the autumn of 1240 Kiev was captured. Thus, since the beginning of the 40s. XIII century the period of Russian history begins, which is commonly called the Tatar-Mongol yoke, which lasted until the second half of the 15th century.

It should be noted that the Tatar-Mongols did not carry out the occupation of Russian lands during this period, since this territory was unsuitable for the economic and economic activities of nomadic peoples. But this yoke was very real. Russia was in vassal dependence on the Tatar-Mongol khans. Each prince, including the Grand Duke, should have received the permission of the khan for the rule "table", the khan's label. The population of the Russian lands was heavily taxed in favor of the Mongols, invaders conquered constantly, which led to the ruin of the lands and the destruction of the population.

Then, on the northwestern borders of Russia, a new dangerous enemy appeared - in 1240 the Swedes, and then in 1240-1242. German crusaders. It so happened that Novgorod land had to defend its independence and its type of development under conditions of pressure from both the East and the West. The struggle for the independence of Novgorod land was led by the young prince Alexander Yaroslavich. The basis of his tactics was the struggle against the Catholic West and a concession to the East (Golden Horde). As a result, the Swedish troops landed in the mouth of the Neva in July 1240 were defeated by the retinue of the Novgorod prince, who received the honorary nickname "Nevsky" for this victory.

Following the Swedes, German knights attacked Novgorod land, who at the beginning of the XIII century. settled in the Baltic states. In 1240 they captured Izborsk, then Pskov. Alexander Nevsky, who led the fight against the crusaders, managed to free Pskov in the winter of 1242, and then defeat the German knights on the ice of Lake Peipsi in the famous ice battle (April 5, 1242). After that, they no longer made serious attempts to capture the Russian lands.

Thanks to the efforts of Alexander Nevsky and his descendants in Novgorod land, despite their dependence on the Golden Horde, traditions of Westernism were preserved and features of citizenship began to take shape.

However, in general, by the end of the XIII century. Northeastern and Southern Russia fell under the influence of the Golden Horde, lost ties with the West and previously established features of progressive development. It is difficult to overestimate the negative consequences that the Tatar-Mongol yoke had for Russia. Most historians agree that the Tatar-Mongol yoke significantly delayed the socio-economic, political and spiritual development of the Russian state, changed the nature of statehood, giving it the form of relations characteristic of the nomadic peoples of Asia.

It is known that in the fight against the Tatar-Mongols, the princely squads took the first blow. The vast majority of them died. Together with the old nobility, the traditions of vassal-retinue relations were leaving. Now, as the formation of the new nobility affirmed relations of citizenship.

Relations between princes and cities have changed. Veche (with the exception of Novgorod land) has lost its significance. The prince in such conditions acted as the sole protector and lord.

Thus, Russian statehood begins to acquire the features of eastern despotism with its cruelty, arbitrariness, and complete disregard for the people and the individual. As a result, a peculiar type of feudalism was formed in Russia, in which the “Asian element” was quite strongly represented. The formation of this peculiar type of feudalism was facilitated by the fact that, as a result of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, Russia developed for 240 years in isolation from Europe.

Feudal fragmentation in Europe occurred in the early Middle Ages. The king’s power became formal; he retained it only within his domain.

Feudal warfare
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Relations between king and feudal lords during the period of fragmentation

The duties of the feudal lords included military service for the benefit of the king and the state, payment of cash contributions in some cases, as well as submission to the decisions of the king. However, starting from the 9th century, the fulfillment of these duties began to depend solely on the goodwill of the vassals, who often did not show it.

Causes of feudal fragmentation

The prerequisites for this process were the death of Charlemagne and the division of possessions under his arm between sons who could not hold power.

As for the reasons for the feudal fragmentation of the countries of Europe, they consisted in weak trade relations between the lands - they could not develop in conditions of subsistence farming. Each estate owned by the feudal lord fully provided himself with everything necessary - there was simply no need to go for anything to the neighbors. Gradually the estates became more and more isolated, so that every feudal possession became almost a state.

Fig. 1. The feudal estate.

Gradually, large feudal lords, dukes and counts, ceased to reckon with the king, who often had less land and property. An expression appears stating that the king is only the first among equals.

Feudal warfare

The formation of feudal relations took place in the conditions of constant wars between the nobles, because who had land, he had more power. Seeking to take away from each other both the land and the peasants in order to become stronger and richer, the feudal lords were in a state of permanent war. Its essence was to seize as large a territory as possible and at the same time prevent another feudal lord from seizing his own.

Fig. 2. The capture of a medieval castle.

Gradually, this led to the fact that there were more and more small feudal estates - even a comic expression appeared about the low-land nobles. It was said that such a feudal lord, when he goes to bed, touches the borders of his possessions with his head and feet. And if it rolls over, it can get to a neighbor.

The results of feudal fragmentation

It was a difficult period in the history of Western Europe. On the one hand, due to the weakening of the power of the center, all lands began to develop, on the other, there were numerous negative consequences.

So, wanting to weaken the neighbor, every feudal lord who started a civil war, first burned the crops and killed the peasants, which did not contribute to economic growth - the estates gradually fell into decay. Even more sad results of feudal fragmentation in Europe were observed from the point of view of the state: the endless fragmentation of land and civil strife weakened the country as a whole and made it easy prey.

Fig. 3. Map of Europe during the period of feudal fragmentation.

It is impossible to say exactly the year when this period of European history ended, but in about 12-13 centuries the process of centralization of states started again.

What did we learn?

What were the causes of feudal fragmentation and what results it led. What was the essence of this phenomenon, what kind of relations connected the king and the feudal lords during this period, as well as why internal wars were constantly waged. The main results of this period are the economic decline of feudal possessions and the weakening of European countries as a whole.

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causes	process	manifestation	result
1. Development of private land tenure	Transformation of land awards for military service into hereditary property.	"The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." The king’s power extended to the territory of his own possessions - the royal domain.	The dependence of the feudal nobility on central authority has weakened.
2. The growth of peasants' dependence on feudal lords	Instead of the pedestrian militia of the peasant community under Karl Martell, a heavily armed knightly cavalry was created.	The decline in the role of assemblies of tribal nobility and free community members. distribution to knights (feudal lords) of the earth with peasants in a lifetime possession.	The consolidation of the peasants. The support of the monarch’s power by the once free community members has weakened.
3. The state of subsistence farming	Weak economic ties between parts of the feudal state.	"In my territory, I am the king." In the structure of medieval society, the townspeople did not stand out in a separate estate.	Feudal economies were economically self-sufficient. Trade was poorly developed.
4. Cultural and ethnic differences	The peoples that were part of the Carolingian empire spoke different languages, had different customs and traditions.	The desire for separation, opposing the central government in the person of the monarch (separatism).	Verdun section 843 and the emergence of kingdoms that gave rise to modern European states: France, Italy and Germany.

Feudal Society in the Middle Ages

Questions and Tasks

1. Define the concepts:

“Dynasty” [a series of monarchs descending from a common ancestor succeeding each other on the throne by right of kinship];
“Feudal fragmentation” [the period in the history of medieval Europe, which is characterized by the fragmentation of the state into large and small feudal possessions];
“Hierarchy” [sequential arrangement of social strata or official ranks from lower to higher, in the order of submission];
“Feudal lord” [land owner, owner of the feud];
“Vassal” [feudal lord who received land ownership (feud) from the lord and was obliged to perform military service];
“Estates” [public groups endowed with certain rights and obligations on the basis of state laws];
“Feudal society” [agrarian (pre-industrial) society of the Middle Ages, which is characterized by: a combination of land ownership of feudal lords with peasant farming subordinate to them, corporatism, the rule of religion in the spiritual sphere].

2. What influence did antiquity and barbarian peoples have on medieval civilization?

3. Prove that it was Christianity that became the basis of the medieval civilization formed in Europe.

4. What are the forms of interaction between civilizations of the East and West in the Middle Ages.

5. If you had the opportunity to make a historical film about one of the famous battles in which representatives of different civilizations came together, which one would you choose? Justify your choice.

Historical figures

Hugo Capet

The French king, who lived around 940-996, the founder of the Capetian dynasty.

The ancient Greek historian who lived around 484-425gg. BC. founder of European historical science.

Homer

The ancient Greek philosopher, who lived around 427-347. BC, creator of the project of an ideal state, a student of Socrates.

Gladiator, leader of the largest slave rebellion in Roman history; died in 701 BC

Roman commander, statesman and writer, who lived 100-44 years. BC.; conqueror of Gaul, established his own dictatorship in Rome.

Aeschylus

The ancient Greek poet and playwright, who lived in 525-456. BC, one of the main representatives of the ancient tragedy.

Ancient Greek physician who lived around 460-370 BC, an ancient reformer and founder of European medicine.

King of the Franks, emperor (from 800g.), Who lived in 742-814, the creator of the vast empire of Western Europe.

Karl Martel

The Frankish Majordom, who lived in 686-741, defeated the Arabs at the Battle of Poitiers, which put an end to their expansion into Europe.

Italian political thinker, who lived in 1469-1527, historian, author of the books “History of Florence”, “Sovereign”.

Ancient Chinese sage, founder of Confucianism, who lived approx. 551-479 BC; his teachings had a huge impact on Chinese civilization, the formation of the national character and value system of the Chinese.

The ancient Chinese sage, the founder of Taoism, who lived in the VI century. BC.; his teachings had a huge impact on Chinese civilization, the formation of the national character and value system of the Chinese.

The states of Western Europe in the Middle Ages were not integral. Each represented several large feudal estates, which, in turn, were divided into smaller ones. For example, in Germany there were about two hundred small states. Most of them were too small, and they were jokingly said that the head of the sleeping ruler is on his land, and his extended legs are in the possession of his neighbor. It was an era of feudal fragmentation that captured

This topic will be of great interest not only to students, for whom it is briefly described in the textbook “General History. Grade 6 ”, as well as adults, who may have forgotten schoolwork a bit.

Definition of the term

Feudalism is a political system that arose in the Middle Ages and operated on the territory of the then European states. Countries in this order of administration were divided into sections called feuds. These lands were distributed by monarch overlords for the long-term use of noble subjects - vassals. The owners, in whose control the territories fell, were obliged to pay tribute to the state treasury every year, as well as send a certain number of knights and other armed soldiers to the army of the ruler. And for this, the vassals, in turn, not only received all the rights to use the land, but also could control the labor and fate of the people considered their subjects.

The collapse of the empire

After the death of Charlemagne in 814, his successors were not able to save the state he created from collapse. And all the prerequisites and causes of feudal fragmentation began to appear precisely from the very moment when the Frankish nobles, or rather, the counts, who were officials of the empire, began to seize the land. At the same time, they turned the free population living there, into their vassals and bonded peasants.

The feudal lords owned estates called seignoria, which were actually closed farms. On their territories, all the necessary goods for life were produced, from foodstuffs to materials for building castles - well-fortified structures where the owners of these lands themselves lived. We can say that feudal fragmentation in Europe arose also thanks to such a subsistence economy, which contributes to the complete independence of the nobles.

Over time, the position of the count began to be inherited and assigned to the largest landowners. They ceased to obey the emperor, and turned medium and small feudal lords into their vassals.

Verdun Treaty

With the death of Charlemagne, quarrels begin in his family, which lead to real wars. At this time, the largest feudal lords begin to support them. But finally tired of the constant hostilities, in 843 the grandchildren of Charlemagne decided to meet in the city of Verdun, where they signed an agreement according to which the empire was divided into three parts.

In accordance with the agreement, one part of the land passed into the possession of Louis the German. He began to rule the territory located north of the Alps and east of the Rhine. This state is called East Frankish. They spoke German dialects here.

The second part was taken over by Karl, who was nicknamed Lysy. These were lands located west of the Rhone, Scheldt and Maas rivers. They began to be called the Kingdom of West Frank. They spoke languages \u200b\u200bthat subsequently formed the basis of modern French.

The third part of the land, together with the title of emperor, went to the oldest of the brothers - Lothar. He owned territory located along and also Italy. But soon the brothers quarreled, and war broke out between them again. Louis and Karl united against Lothar, robbed him of his land and divided it among themselves. At this time, the title of emperor practically did not mean anything.

It was after the separation of the former state of Charlemagne in Western Europe that the period of feudal fragmentation began. Subsequently, the possessions of the three brothers turned into countries that exist to this day - these are Italy, Germany and France.

Medieval European States

In addition to the empire of Charlemagne, there was another large European state. In 1066, the Duke of Normandy (a region located in the north of France), subjugating the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, united them and became king of England. His name was William the Conqueror.

To the east of German lands, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Kievan Rus were already formed. And where the nomads who came here dominated, the Kingdom of Hungary eventually appeared. In addition, Sweden, Denmark and Norway arose in northern Europe. For a while, all of these states were united.

The collapse of medieval states

So what were the causes of feudal fragmentation here? The reason for the collapse of the empires of that time was not only the civil strife of the rulers. As you know, the lands that make up the state of Charlemagne were united by the force of arms. Therefore, the reasons for the feudal fragmentation lie also in the fact that there was an attempt to gather completely different peoples within the framework of one empire who did not want to live together. For example, the population of the West Frankish kingdom was called the French, the East Frankish - the Germans, and the peoples living in Italy - the Italians. It is interesting that the very first documents drawn up in the languages \u200b\u200bof the peoples living here appeared precisely during the struggle for power of the grandchildren of Emperor Charlemagne. So, Louis the German signed a treaty stating that they swear together to confront their older brother Lothar. These papers were compiled in French and German.

The power of the nobles

The reasons for the feudal fragmentation in Europe largely depended on the actions of the counts and dukes, who were a kind of governors in various parts of the country. But over time, when they began to feel almost unlimited power, the feudal lords ceased to obey the main ruler. Now they served only the owners of the lands on whose territory their estates were located. Moreover, they reported directly to the duke or count, and even then only during hostilities, when they marched at the head of their own army. When peace came, they were completely independent and ruled their lands and the people who inhabited them as they saw fit.

Feudal Stairs

In order to create their army, the dukes and counts gave part of their territories to smaller landowners. Thus, some became lords (chief), while others became their vassals (military servants). Entering the ownership of the feud, the vassal knelt before his lord and swore allegiance to him. In exchange, the master handed over to his subject a tree branch and a handful of earth.

The main feudal lord in the state was the king. He was considered the lord for the counts and dukes. Their possessions included hundreds of villages and a large number of military detachments. A step below stood the barons, who were vassals of the counts and dukes. They usually owned no more than three dozen villages and a detachment of warriors. The petty feudal knights obeyed the barons.

As a result of the hierarchy, the middle-class feudal lord was a lord for the petty, but at the same time he was a vassal for a larger nobleman. Therefore, a rather interesting situation developed. Those nobles who were not vassals of the king were not obliged to obey him and carry out his orders. There was even a special rule. It read: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal."

The relations between the estates resembled a staircase, where on the lower steps there were small feudal lords, and on the upper - larger, led by the king. It was this division that later came to be called the feudal ladder. The peasants did not enter it, since all the lords and vassals lived at the expense of their labor.

Natural economy

The reasons for the feudal fragmentation of Western Europe consisted also in the fact that the inhabitants of not only certain regions, but also of the villages practically did not need any connections with other settlements. They could make all necessary things, foodstuffs and tools themselves or simply exchange them with neighbors. At that time, there was just the heyday of subsistence farming, when trade itself ceased to exist.

Military policy

The feudal fragmentation, the causes and consequences of which had a significant impact on the military power of the royal army itself, could not only strengthen it, but also increase the authority of the central government in the eyes of large landowners. The feudal lords by the tenth century managed to acquire their own squads. Therefore, the king’s personal army could not fully resist such vassals. In those days, the ruler of the state was only a conditional head of the then hierarchical system. In fact, the country was ruled by nobles - dukes, barons and princes.

The reasons for the collapse of European states

So, all the main causes of feudal fragmentation were identified in the process of studying the cultural and socio-economic development of Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Such a political system has led to a rise in terms of material well-being, as well as to flourishing in the spiritual direction. Historians have come to the conclusion that feudal fragmentation was a completely logical and objective process. But this applies only to European states.

Here are the causes of feudal fragmentation common to all states, without exception, summarized in two paragraphs:

● Availability of subsistence farming. On the one hand, it ensured a rather sharp rise in wealth and trade, as well as the rapid development of land tenure, and on the other, the complete absence of any specialization in certain regions and extremely limited economic ties with other lands.

● The sedentary lifestyle of the squad. In other words, the transformation of its members into feudal lords whose privilege was the right to own land. In addition, their power over the peasant estate was unlimited. They had the opportunity to judge people and punish them for various wrongdoings. This caused a slight weakening of the influence of central government policies on certain territories. Prerequisites also appeared for the successful solution of military tasks by the local population.

Feudal fragmentation of Russian lands

The processes taking place in Western Europe since the 10th century could not ignore the principality, where the Eastern Slavs lived. But it should be noted that the causes of feudal fragmentation in Russia were of a special nature. This can be explained by other socio-economic trends, as well as local customs of succession.

The division of the state into principalities was due to the great influence enjoyed by the local nobility, called the boyars. In addition, they owned huge land plots and supported the local princes. And instead of submitting to the Kiev authorities, they agreed among themselves.

Heredity of Thrones

As in Europe, feudal fragmentation began with the fact that the numerous heirs of the rulers could not share power. Whereas in Western countries, the Salic right of the inheritance of the throne was in effect, requiring the transfer of the throne from father to eldest son, then on the Russian lands, Ladder law had effect. It provided for the transfer of power from an older brother to a younger brother, etc.

Numerous offspring of all brothers grew up, and each of them wanted to rule. Over time, the situation became more confused, and applicants to the throne constantly and tirelessly weighed intrigues against each other.

The first serious contention was the military conflict between the heirs of Prince Svyatoslav, who died in 972. The winner was his son Vladimir, who later baptized Russia. The collapse of the state began after the reign of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, who died in 1132. After this, feudal fragmentation continued until the lands began to unite around Moscow.

The reasons for the fragmentation of Russian lands

The crushing process of Kievan Rus covers the period from the XII to the beginning of the XIV century. In this era, the princes waged lengthy and bloody internecine wars for the expansion of land ownership.

Here are the most important causes of feudal fragmentation, briefly and clearly formulated in four paragraphs, valid only in Russia:

● The intensification of internecine struggle as a result of two trends that existed in the rules of succession to the Kiev throne. One of them is Byzantine law, which allows transferring power from father to eldest son, the second is Russian custom, according to which the eldest in the family should become the heir.

● A significant weakening of the role of Kiev as a central authority. This was due to the raids of the Polovtsy, which made the trip along the Dnieper dangerous, as a result of which the outflow of the population from Kiev to the northwest began.

● A significant weakening of the threat from the Pechenegs and Varangians, as well as the rout and establishment of relations with the rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

● Creation by Yaroslav the Wise of a specific system. After his death in 1054, a whole series of civil wars engulfed Russian lands. The Old Russian integral state from a sole monarchy was transformed into a federal one, which was immediately led by several authoritative princes of Yaroslavichi.

We hope that this article helped to supplement the knowledge of not only schoolchildren who are now studying the topic “Causes of feudal fragmentation” in the textbook “General History. 6th grade". It will refresh the memory of university students events that occurred in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, such a topic as feudal fragmentation, the causes and consequences of which we have described in sufficient detail, you will agree, is quite interesting.

History [Crib] Fortunatov Vladimir Valentinovich

10. Feudalism and feudal fragmentation in Europe

Europe did not suffer from the Mongol-Tatar invasion. Mongol armies reached the Adriatic Sea. Although at the battle of Legnica in 1241 they defeated the Polish-German army, the vast Russian lands remained in the rear of the Mongols, in which the powerful Prince Alexander Nevsky gathered his forces to fight the invaders.

In the X – XI centuries. after the collapse of the empire Charles the greatin Western Europe it is approved feudal fragmentation.The kings retained real power only within the boundaries of their possessions. Formally, the king's vassals were obliged to perform military service, pay him a monetary contribution upon entering into the inheritance, and also obey the decisions of the king as the supreme arbiter in interfeudal disputes. In fact, the fulfillment of all these obligations was already in the 9th – 10th centuries. almost entirely depended on the will of the powerful feudal lords.Strengthening of their power led to feudal feuds.

In France, the Capetian dynasty (987–1328) was weak and could not oppose the feudal lords, who lived freely and were not particularly reckoned with the king. The feudal lords waged endless wars among themselves. Serfssuffered under the burden of many duties. The Valois dynasty (1328–1589) managed to complete the process of gathering French lands and French under their leadership.

The social system that took shape in the Middle Ages (V – XV centuries) is commonly called in many western and eastern countries feudalism.The land allotment that belonged to the landowner along with peasant farmers who worked on the land had different names in many countries. Feudin Western Europe, this is inheritance of land granted by senor vassalu on condition of service or payment of customary contributions. Theod was also called beneficial(“Beneficence”). The owners of the feuds, landowners in the era of feudalism constituted the first estate - estate feudal lords.Peasants, small producers were not the owners of the cultivated land.

For using the allotment, the peasant was obliged to cultivate the land of the feudal lord on enslaving conditions, to pay rent -developmental, grocery or monetary, that is, a quitrent (chinsh). Occurred commendation, establishing a relationship of weak to strong. The personal dependence of the peasant often approached the slave. But the peasant possessed some immunity.On the land given to him in the holding, the peasant led independentsmall-scale farming, owning a house, livestock and, most importantly, tools, with which he worked on the plot at his disposal, as well as stocking the feudal lord in the case of working rent. The feudal lord in Western Europe could not kill the serf, but had the right to the first wedding night in relation to the female part of the serfs. The economic autonomy of the peasant inevitably gave rise to non-economic coercion,characteristic of the feudal system of economy, as peasants were forced to perform conscription by force. Dependence serfsfrom feudal lords determined by law. Feudal lawsometimes called fist, since it was built on direct violence. Feudal economy was predominantly natural, since most of the output was consumed within the economy itself. The feudal lords, having different incomes (trophies, money from the king, from the sale of part of the products), ordered craftsmen to arms, clothes, jewelry, etc.

Along with secularby feudal lords (dukes, counts, barons, etc.) among the second estate - clergy -there were also many feudal landowners. Solid land was controlled by the pope, bishops, abbots, abbots, etc.

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