. A history of mediaeval and modern Europe for secondary schools. uncomfortablerivals or doubtful vassals. Odo (or Eudes), Count of Paris,one of the founders of the line, had distinguished himself byhis gallant and successful defense of Paris against the North-men (885). After the deposition of Charles the Fat he had beenrecognized as king by many of the nobles of Neustria, but thetime was not ripe to do away with the old dynasty. Duringmost of the troubled tenth century, kings of the ancient lineheld the dubious allegiance of the West Franks. Odos descend-ants (the Dukes of France, with their
. A history of mediaeval and modern Europe for secondary schools. uncomfortablerivals or doubtful vassals. Odo (or Eudes), Count of Paris,one of the founders of the line, had distinguished himself byhis gallant and successful defense of Paris against the North-men (885). After the deposition of Charles the Fat he had beenrecognized as king by many of the nobles of Neustria, but thetime was not ripe to do away with the old dynasty. Duringmost of the troubled tenth century, kings of the ancient lineheld the dubious allegiance of the West Franks. Odos descend-ants (the Dukes of France, with their power centered atParis) were among the chief of these weak sovereigns unrulyliegemen. The authority of the Carolingian kings continuallywaned. In 987, it had dwindled almost to a shadow. Kings of THE RISE OF THE FRENCH KINGDOM 83 Laon they were contemptuously called, for the one city overwhich they had firmest dominion. At length King Louis Vdied without direct issue. Rather than see the royal namepass to his German-bred kinsman, the nobles of Neustria hailed. FRANCE TO 1270 as overlord the greatest of their own number. Hugh Capet,Duke of France (987-96), was proclaimed king. His descend-ants were destined to reign in France until 1 There are scions of this royal house living to-day, eager to claim the throneof France, if that great nation ever decides to abandon her present republicfor a monarchy. 84 HISTORY OF EUROPE 41. The mediaeval Kingdom of France — its weakness. It was almost a tinsel crown which the Archbishop of Rheims(the first churchman of the realm) put on the head of HughCapet. To buy the support of the nobles he had been forced tomake great concessions of land and authority. Nowhere wasthe feudal system, with its organized anarchy, its system ofgreat principalities and little baronies, more perfectly developedthan in the country over which he was nominally the Hugh inherited the vast powers of Charlemagne;practically he was only the
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