The Growth of Royal Power, Councils, and Parliaments in the High Middle Ages

During the High Middle Ages, royal power in the monarchy became hereditary, since inheritance of the throne was less violent and disputed at the time than elections. Kings sent out officials throughout their kingdoms to supervise their interests. They also created royal courts and justices to resolve arguments over property and repress crime. This legal jurisdiction, along with military might in order to enforce verdicts, became important parts of royal power. All lords were supposed to act in councils or "courts" with their vassals. For the kings, representatives of townspeople, clergy, and nobles were summoned to royal councils. From these councils, departments of government such as the judiciary, exchequer, and military command emerged. These councils also were the origins of parliaments. Parliaments, or representative assemblies, began to sprout all over Europe during the thirteenth century. Kings called for parliaments in order to publicize and explain their policies, as well as to raise money, more conveniently. Kings often allowed people to speak up and point out issues or complaints. Most parliaments were considered to represent three collective estates -- the clergy, nobles, and burghers of chartered towns. Eventually, England's Parliament developed distinctly from the others, with two houses - the House of the Lords, a combination of the first two estates, and the House of the Commons, which included knights, burghers, and peasants. The rise of parliaments in Europe allowed people to take part in their governments.

References

R. Palmer R., Joel Colton, and Lloyd Kramer. A History of the Modern World. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2007.