washed his hands with cured a beggar of his blindness. These type of tales created
hysteria, fascination and the kings where seen as cult figures. The kings where becoming
more beloved by the common people. To them, the Kings were their only protectors.
This religious image proved extremely beneficial. Developments such as these
strengthened the position of the king’s.
The second main influence when considering the power of Capetian Kings and definitely
a related development throughout this period is the great agricultural production. The
capetian initially controlled only the duchy of France (Paris and Orleans) but owing to a
shrewd and persistent policy of annexation their jurisdiction progressively extended to
other regions. This, for the first time now could convert the latent fertility of the soils of
northern France, and especially in the Ile-de-France, into great wealth. The Ile-de-France
was the centre of the kings’ domain, the land was relatively small but of significant
importance, with an excellent location – surrounding cultural Paris- the capital of western
Europe- accessible transport links and the University- attracting many students. This gave
the king the opportunity to tax this popular area, thus creating revenue. This localized
area was the basis to rapid grow and future expansion of agricultural expansion and trade.
This was seen to be an economic revolution with the expansion of lands, fairs and
markets, tools and mills.
With climatic changes and rapid advanced farming techniques saw the demand in
economic developments. ‘Its manifestations varied from region to region, and time scales
were widely different, but overall it is clear that by the time of Philip 1’s reign land
clearance was increasing, villages and monastric communities expanding, long-distance
trade growing as the demand for luxury goods gradually increased, local markets
multiplying and coinage circulating widely in much of France’. The demand led to land
clearing. ‘The pressure of an expanding population and the stimulus of better agricultural
techniques now caused land to be cleared and reclaimed from the forests for farming.
From the later eleventh century new settlements, villages and religious communities
began to appear in clearings hacked for forests.’
1 Capetian France p137
2 Capetian France p138
3 Capetian France p138
With towns growing rapidly in size and population they needed protection from the king,
the towns being small and plentiful they were ruled individually. ‘The king could help
arbitrate between the people’. If difficulties arose there was a relationship with the
king and the people thus increasing his popularity. France was becoming a powerful and
unified state.
The final factor but just as important as to the consolidation of powers of the Capetians as
a family and dynasty became so strong is due to succession – particularly fortunate as
well as clever. The capetians had the infinite advantage of being a long-lived clan. Aside
from Hugh Capet himself – the first of seven Capetian kings to all rule for over twenty-
five years a piece- as well as Philip I reigning for almost half a century. This was the
beginning of the succession from father to son; ‘the continuation of succession was
vitally
important which kept a certain loyalty within the family’. The throne was unlikely to be
challenged. They also had the good fortune and shrewd match-making-and-breaking to
secure themselves and their male heirs. The royal policy of crowning the son in his
Father’s lifetime was carried out extremely smoothly. One place the Capetians certainly
did find difficulty in maintaining their position was in the indisputable fact that their
house had usurped the throne from existing Carolingians. Without a break in the
succession, however, it became increasingly difficult to foresee a return to the old
bloodline, especially with some judicious marriages on the part of the capetians. The old
4 History Of Medieval Europe p189. 5 France In Middle Ages
regime confirmed a central fact about the way the capetians saw themselves, the
capetians genuinely saw themselves to be legitimate successors to his title, especially as
time went on. Survival, despite the precarious situation of the late tenth century, was
something, which was becoming more and more certain as the dynasty progressed.
The capetians as a family and as a dynasty became so strong due to many factors but land
holdings, anointment and succession all demonstrate the crucial role in which they played
in the development of their powers and of the dynasty. All were well thought out and
very clever. The increase of agricultural development converted into genuine wealth and
prosperity. The shrewd thinking and aggressive tactics of succession securing themselves
and their heirs to the throne and the importance of anointment and their connections to
the Church had on developing their reputations and popularity. All three factors clearly
demonstrate and provide support in the consolidation of the powers of the capetian kings.
