Obtaining Power in the Middle Ages.

Essay by moonriseCollege, UndergraduateA, April 2003

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Obtaining Power in the Middle Ages

Wars, violence, mayhem, poverty, superstition and gloom are all characteristics of medieval times. A time when loyalty to a King was as thin as a fine piece of string which could be broken at a blink of an eye. A time when there was no national unity among countries, but instead localized communities. But despite this, some kingdoms did prosper during this mysterious time between ancient Rome and the 1500s, as well as Christianity. By describing the life of Charlemagne, Einhard reveals the way in which many medieval Kings exercised their power and claimed their right to authority through warfare, and religious beliefs.

In order to secure the loyalty of his aristocratic citizens and extend his power over the land, Charlemagne conquered many nations and by his example shows how medieval kings exercised their authority. The expansion of an empire is one of the greatest accomplishments a King can do for his people.

Although Charlemagne's predecessors were successful in acquiring more territory for their Land, Charlemagne exceeded them all because, "He largely increased the Frank Kingdom...that more than doubled its former territory was added to it." # Strength and dominance is a major factor in keeping a Kingdom strong and feared upon. By dominating most of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, Charlemagne was able to show the fierce might of his army and the strength of his kingdom. In order for many kings to show they are worthy of their position, conquering other nations was very important because it showed that they had the strategic and intelligent mind to rule their country, after all, to be weak is to be incompetent. Also, because of rapid acquisition of land and the many victories obtained, Kings are able to establish alliances with other great...