What Did a King Do in the Medieval Times?
The medieval period lasted from around 500 A.D. to 1400 A.D. in England and Europe. Medieval kings were the absolute heads of government but as they centralized their government, various checks on their power arose by the end of the Middle Ages.
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Early Medieval Period
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The king ran the government, formulating policy, which his ministers and other governmental officials executed.
The Feudal System
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The king owned all of the land but granted land to noblemen, who, in turn, rewarded knights with land. The king's power over his subjects was such that ordinary folks would write petitions to their kings, known as "grants of grace," with requests ranging from a pardon for a crime to a promotion in the church hierarchy.
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The Warrior-King
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Up until the 14th century, most kings were warriors who led their armies in battle, e.g., Henry V of England. After the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), however, most kings delegated military leadership to noblemen as it became difficult to be present on the battlefield during a prolonged war.
Centralization
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Medieval kings centralized their power over time. For instance, they built their own military forces (instead of relying on noblemen to supply soldiers) and constructed bureaucracies that were answerable only to them.
Checks on Power
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The Church acted as a check on a king's power throughout most of the Middle Ages because he was accountable to the pope. In England, an alliance of lords, clergymen and townspeople forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, limiting his power, in 1215.
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