Before the High Middle ages, what are now England and France were divided up into many separate fiefdoms. The feudal system evolved in such a way that the king had little power. The vassals pledged their allegiance to their lords and the peasants pledged their allegiance to the vassals, so it was really the lords who had the power. The kings also had no armies of their own and relied on their vassals for support. …showed first 75 words of 1354 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1354 total…like France and England the nobles had all the power, until the kings took it away from them. The English took the power right from under their feet, which angered them greatly. The French tricked the nobles into losing their power by playing them against each other. Both gained the support of the people, but only the French were able to secure a full monarchy, while England was only able to hold a limited one.