Monarchial Rise
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To examine, how monarchs increased their powers in the High Middle Ages, two areas, or groups of people, must be looked at, the noble vassals and church officials. The monarchs of this time established increase in power through many different ways: they used political power to subdue nobles and rally the general population, they manipulated the church and used symbols to display their prominence. The monarchs that did not succeed were simply conventional lords who thought that they could win through the battlefield. The rise in monarchial power created a great alteration in Europe and started the path forward to nation states and absolute monarchy.
One example of monarchs using political powers to influence the vassals was William the Conqueror (1066-1087). During his battles with the Normans, King William built many castles to support those who were fighting for him. It was not just to protect England but to show the power that William had. Even after the fighting had finished he put up more castles and gave them to garrisons composed of his bravest soldiers. King William did this to solidify his power and show ultimate control; it also showed that if you fought for King William this would be how you were rewarded.
In Source 5, we see another way in which William and his successors held ultimate power of the vassals...