French Kingdom - Late Capetian

  General Description   In the history of France the Late Capetian period (1150-1328 CE) was a character-defining period of administrative centralization and demographic expansion.
Population and political organization
Before Philip II (r. 1180-1223 CE), government was very simple and closely linked to the king’s court, which was still itinerant, moving wherever the king went. ^[1] At the core of the French king’s government were a few major officials with household titles (chancellor, seneschal, butler, chamberlain and constable). ^[2] From the 12th century onwards, these positions were the preserve of the aristocracy. ^{[2] [3]}
Philip II was likewise surrounded by a group of close counsellors, ^[2] but he also laid some of the foundations of a more formal administrative system. ^[4] More than ever, government activity was recorded in writing; registers and government records for finance and justice were placed in a dedicated archive. ^[5] The clergy of the Christian Church, which had long provided a pool of ’educated, literature and numerate subjects’, continued to be a vital resource for the government and administration, while the Knights Templar military order advised and under Philip II controlled the treasury from the Paris Temple. ^{[6] [2]} However, an indication of the increasing specialization of central government, men of lesser status, such as marshals, were increasingly often appointed to important official positions. ^[2] The first truly professional administration in Paris dates from about 1250 CE ^[3] and included distinct departments for finance, justice, the chancery and the treasury, housed within the Royal Palace on the Île de la Cité. ^[7]
The power of the royal centre over the regions (for instance, the power of the French king to make laws binding across the whole of his territory) steadily increased during the Late Capetian period. ^[8] Seneschals who had previously served as the senior officials in the households of dukes, barons, and counts were generally retained but now became royal appointees. ^[9] From the reign of Louis VIII (1223-1226 CE), apanages were carved out in peripheral regions and placed under the control of the sons of the ruler. ^[10]
From the 11th to the 14th century CE, the French population almost quadrupled from about 4 to 15 million. ^[11] The population of Paris may have grown from about 25,000 people in 1200 CE to 210,000 in 1328 CE. ^[11]

[1]: (Clark and Henneman 1995, 1317) Clark, William W., and John Bell Henneman, Jr. 1995. “Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1314-30. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HS8644XK

[2]: (Bradbury 2013, 249) Bradbury, Jim. 2013. Philip Augustus: King of France 1180-1223. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XSFRWX7E

[3]: (Pegues 1995, 1333) Pegues, Franklin J. 1995. “Parlement de Paris.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1332-33. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HHFUSQER

[4]: (Spufford 2006, 67) Spufford, Peter. 2006. Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe. London: Thames and Hudson. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/N7ZCQTEW

[5]: (Bradbury 2013, 248-49) Bradbury, Jim. 2013. Philip Augustus: King of France 1180-1223. London: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XSFRWX7E

[6]: (Martin 2011) Martin, Sean. 2011. The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order. Harpenden: Pocket Essentials. Seshat URL:https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/S2RA6VRR

[7]: (Spufford 2006, 68) Spufford, P. 2006. Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe. Thames and Hudson. London.

[8]: (Pegues 1995, 1007-08) Pegues, Franklin J. 1995. “Law and Justice.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1005-11. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/UH73VNTJ

[9]: (Henneman, Jr. 1995, 1645) Henneman, Jr., John Bell. 1995. “Seneschal.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1645. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/H7UJDBAS

[10]: (Suarez 1995, 97) Suarez, Pedro J. 1995. “Apanage.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 97-98. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZVMB3BUD

[11]: (Percy, Jr. 1995, 1416) Percy, Jr., William A. 1995. “Population and Demography.” In Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, edited by William W. Kibler, Grover A. Zinn, Lawrence Earp, and John Bell Henneman, Jr., 1415-17. New York: Garland Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QI73FMSM