Frankish Adaptation to the Middle Eastern Environment: Synopsis |
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
This article is an
attempt to reassess modern conceptions of the Franks within the Middle Eastern
environment during the early Crusading period.
For the past forty to fifty years, historians have considered such
Franks as an alien elite, indifferent or even hostile to its indigenous
subjects. Shut away in their castles
and cities, the Franks were thought to be content ruling their heterogeneous
society by absentee landownership, control of trade, and military
coercion. A high level of segregation
was applied to all forms of control using a Latin power structure that was entirely
western. In 1110, Baldwin I affirmed to
Tancred during a land dispute that “we (The Franks) shall hold nothing among us
by gentile law in all those towns which God subjects to our authority.”
Possibly meaning that the crusader states would follow western laws. Moreover, Baldwin I had begun instituting an
administration reminiscent of Christian Europe, which modern historians
understood to be a blue print for all “crusader states.” Modern historians look to these contemporary
accounts and examples as proof to intentional Frankish segregation. But, if we take a closer look into Frankish
society, we would see something different.
Latin aristocrats and settlers alike began using Near Eastern concepts
and adapting them to their institutional framework. Whether
in diplomacy, war, or administration, the Franks were
forced to adapt their own structure of power to better fit the one
already in
existence throughout the Middle East if they hoped to maintain their
Christian
foothold. I hope that you enjoy the read as much as I did researching
it! If you have any questions, comments, or complaints please don't be
shy and PMing me. I would love to answer/debate anything that I've
written. It's what historians do!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 April 2008 )
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