IERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS WHO WERE PART OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

THE following, then, is the state of Europe in the year one thousand,
when most people were so unhappy that they welcomed the prophecy
foretelling the approaching end of the world and rushed to the
monasteries, that the Day of Judgement might find them engaged upon
devout duties.

At an unknown date, the Germanic tribes had left their old home in Asia
and had moved westward into Europe. By sheer pressure of numbers they
had forced their way into the Roman Empire. They had destroyed the great
western empire, but the eastern part, being off the main route of
the great migrations, had managed to survive and feebly continued the
traditions of Rome's ancient glory.

During the days of disorder which had followed, (the true "dark ages" of
history, the sixth and seventh centuries of our era,) the German tribes
had been persuaded to accept the Christian religion and had recognised
the Bishop of Rome as the Pope or spiritual head of the world. In the
ninth century, the organising genius of Charlemagne had revived the
Roman Empire and had united the greater part of western Europe into a
single state. During the tenth century this empire had gone to pieces.
The western part had become a separate kingdom, France. The eastern half
was known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, and the rulers
of this federation of states then pretended that they were the direct
heirs of Caesar and Augustus.

Unfortunately the power of the kings of France did not stretch beyond
the moat of their royal residence, while the Holy Roman Emperor was
openly defied by his powerful subjects whenever it suited their fancy or
their profit.

To increase the misery of the masses of the people, the triangle of
western Europe (look at page 128, please) was for ever exposed to
attacks from three sides. On the south lived the ever dangerous
Mohammedans. The western coast was ravaged by the Northmen. The eastern
frontier (defenceless except for the short stretch of the Carpathian
mountains) was at the mercy of hordes of Huns, Hungarians, Slavs and
Tartars.

The peace of Rome was a thing of the remote past, a dream of the "Good
Old Days" that were gone for ever. It was a question of "fight or die,"
and quite naturally people preferred to fight. Forced by circumstances,
Europe became an armed camp and there was a demand for strong
leadership. Both King and Emperor were far away. The frontier