In 987 when Hugh Capet took the throne of France founding a dynasty which was to rule for over 300 years his kingdom was weak and insignificant. But by 1100 the kingdom of France was beginning to dominate the cultural nd religious life of western Europe. In the centuries that followed to scholars and to poets to reforming churchmen and monks to crusaders and the designers of churches France was the hub of the universe. La douce France drew people like a magnet even though its kings were until about 1200 comparatively insignificant figures. Then thanks to the conquests and reforms of King Philip Augustus France became a dominant force in political and economic terms as well producing a saint-king Louis IX and in Philip IV a ruler so powerful that he could dictate to popes and emperors. Spanning France's development across four centuries Capetian France is a definitive book. This second edition has been carefully revised to take account of the very latest work without losing the original book's popular balance between a compelling narrative and an fascinating examination of the period's main themes. . Language: English