Economic Foundations of Royal Power

The early Capetian economy remained overwhelmingly agricultural, with royal revenues deriving primarily from domain lands. The king functioned as the realm's greatest landlord, collecting rents, fees, and agricultural produce from royal estates. The fertility of the Île-de-France, with its grain fields and vineyards, provided a solid economic base despite the domain's limited extent.

Royal efforts to improve agricultural productivity showed pragmatic governance. Kings supported land clearance, draining marshes and cutting forests to create new arable land. They encouraged the adoption of improved agricultural techniques, including the three-field system and better plowing methods. Water mills proliferated on royal estates, providing power for grain processing and generating rental income. These improvements increased both production and population within the domain.

Commercial development received royal encouragement through various mechanisms. Kings maintained roads and bridges, essential for trade despite their poor condition by Roman standards. They regulated weights and measures, providing the standardization necessary for expanded commerce. Royal mints produced reliable coinage, though monetary rights remained fragmented among multiple authorities. The protection of merchants from arbitrary exactions within royal lands contrasted with the tolls and seizures common elsewhere.

The Jewish communities within the royal domain played important economic roles despite facing periodic persecution. Jewish moneylenders provided credit in an economy where Christian usury prohibitions limited financial services. Royal protection of Jews, motivated by fiscal considerations, allowed commercial activities that benefited the broader economy. However, this protection remained conditional and subject to reversal during religious enthusiasm or fiscal crisis.