Monarchies the Evolution of Monarchy

Monarchies

The Evolution of Monarchy

The monarchy was the primary form of government throughout the Middle Ages. This form of government is ruled by a single leader. Often, leadership is passed through traditional family lines to sons or daughters of the monarch. The sovereignty of the monarchy is undivided and the monarch is typically a permanent head of state. The powers of the monarch are almost unlimited. The earliest monarchies date back to the beginning of the Middle Ages around 500-600 AD.

The monarchy developed from ancient Germanic practices and was also known as the barbarian monarchy. The monarchy developed from the Germanic tribes that existed from 300-500 AD. The early monarchies were primitive states in which a single ruler stood in the center of most free men in the society. The original monarchies were pagan, but contact with the Roman Empire and Christian church changed this pagan structure (Internet Medieval Sourcebook). As the ideal of the Monarchy developed, it became apparent that the Monarch did more than rule during war and the law became more formalized than, being simple oral tradition. The Germanic kings served as judge during assemblies, as priest during sacrifices, and as a military leader during times of war. Eventually, the role of priest during sacrifices was dropped as Christianity gained popularity (Internet Medieval Sourcebook).

The history of the development of a monarchy is more than simply a list of Kings. It is the story conquest, losses, expansion and contraction. The British monarchy is the oldest and most stable monarchy in the world. Like many monarchies, the rulers had to fight to gain their territory and to remain in power. Outsiders were always keen to usurp their power at the first chance.

The Anglo-Saxons represented the first unified national government with England divided into seven small kingdoms. These small kingdoms survived an invasion of the Danish Vikings in the 800s. Egbert was the first English national King. In 1066, William the Conqueror took the crown by force. William ordered the first census, known as the Domesday Book which was used to create the first central tax system for England. William introduced elements of French culture into England, while many of the lower classes kept the old Anglo-Saxon language and customs, French was the language of choice for nobility. William continued to expand English territory into France (Internet Medieval Sourcebook)