Medieval Monarchies in Europe MATERIALS France. Capetian Dynasty The dissolution of the Carolingian Empire gave rise to the West Frankish Kingdom. This was a fragmented entity, where powerful aristocratic families, thanks to their military ability and their vast fiefs, divided the country and exercised an increasing autonomous power. The king had control over only a part of the territory, in the area that extended between Paris and the city of Orléans. With the Capetian dynasty the royal function achieved more authority and the political and administrative structures of the kingdom were strengthened. The alliance with the Christian Church became more solid and the Capetian kings extended and consolidated their power thanks to an expansionist policy. They succeeded in acquiring new territories either with the use of arms or with matrimonial policies. Kingdom of England Flanders and Artois Vermandois Paris Brittany Champagne Maine One of the great kings of the Capetian dynasty was Philip II Augustus (1165-1223) who, in the decisive Battle of Bouvines, defeated the English army and reconquered the French territories held by the kings of England. He strengthened royal power at three different levels. On a territorial level there was territorial expansion and the affirmation of Paris as capital of the kingdom. On the linguistic level, there was the affirmation of langue d o l, spoken in Northern France, which became the language of most parts of the country. On a symbolic level, the king was seen as the protector of the weak against the offences of the overbearing nobility. Reims Normandy Nantes Anjou Orléans Bourges Dijon Nevers Poitiers Berry Burgundy Aquitaine Bordeaux Kingdom of Burgundy Gascony Kingdom of Léon Kingdom of Navarre Toulouse County of Catalonia Territorial fragmentation in France between the 10th and 11th centuries. Holy Roman Empire Caliphate of C rdoba Crown lands Ecclesiastical lordships Boundaries of the Kingdom of France ACTIVITY 4.A Read the text France. Capetian Dynasty and complete the chart below. King Philip II Augustus Strengthening of Royal Power Territorial level There was territorial (1.) .......... ............ ... and the affirmation of (2.) .......... ............ ... as capital of the kingdom. Linguistic level There was the (3.) .......... ............ ... of langue d o l, spoken in (4.) .......... ............ ... France, which became the (5.) .......... ............ ... of most parts of the country. Symbolic level The king was seen as the protector of the (6.) .......... ............ ... against the offences of the overbearing (7.) .......... ............ ... . 573 77636R_0000E01_INTE_BAS@0573.pgs 15.09.2021 15:01