The Capetian Kings of France: Monarchy & Nation (987–1328)

The Evidence y study of the sources of Capetian history must start rom the old but still valuable work of Auguste Molinier. 1 Rather than seeking to provide even a brief outline of these sources, this chapter aims only at emphasising the fragmentary-and often inadequate-nature of the historian's knowledge of the period, whilst at the same time giving some idea of what may be learned from the evidence which has survived. History written in the vernacular was perhaps the last literary form to make its appearance in F ranee. Throughout the whole Capetian period Latin was the historian's language, and churchmen, in consequence, were almost alone in writing for posterity. It is not surprising, therefore, that the history of the age has an ecclesiastical tinge, that kings appear as crowned monks, preoccupied with their good or bad relations with the Church, and that the events which are recorded by the writers primarily concern the Church. Thus Helgaud, a monk of the abbey of Fleury-sur-Loire, could write a life of King Robert the Pious (the Epitome vitae regis Roherti) which ignores his public life and recounts only his private virtues. Helgaud was possibly biased in writing of one who had (in his own words) treated him like a son, but more intelligent writers shared the same outlook. The life of King Louis VI written by Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis explains almost all that king's actions as arising from a desire to serve the house of Saint-Denis or some sister monastery. In the thirteenth century a change can be detected; further, the growing number of records makes it less necessary for the student thereafter to rely so heavily upon chronicle evidence. For the 'M. Prou, R.ecueil des actes de Philippe I•r (Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, Chartes et Diplomes relatifs a l'histoire de France, Paris, 1908). • A. Luchaire, Louis VI k Gros. Annaks de sa vie et de son regne (zo8z-zz.3.7) (Paris, 1890). 0 A. Luchaire, Etudes sur ks actes de Louis VII (Paris, 1885). This study is not exhaustive, and it has been suggested that a fuJI quarter of the surviving documents escaped Luchaire's notice. This does not, however, invalidate the argument of the text. 7 L. Delisle, Catalogu• des actes de Philippe Auguste (Paris, 1856). A more complete catalogue was begun by E. Berger and H.-F. Delaborde (Acad. des [nscr. et Belles- Front Matter....Pages i-x The Evidence....Pages 1-12 The Kings and their Counsellors....Pages 13-47 The Dynasty....Pages 48-59 The King of France....Pages 60-78 ‘Emperor in his own Kingdom’....Pages 79-95 The Capetian Patrimony....Pages 96-109 The Great Fiefs....Pages 110-136 The Lands of the House of Anjou....Pages 137-155 Territorial Gains and Losses....Pages 156-168 The Machinery of Government....Pages 169-198 The Impact of Social Change....Pages 199-215 The Intellectual and Moral Climate....Pages 216-226 Epilogue....Pages 227-230 Back Matter....Pages 231-242 1968 softcover; some underlining and notes in margin; name in front overleaf