But the city from the first was the decided enemy of
feudalism. As its inhabitants increased in number and wealth, they became
Revolt of conscious of their strength and refused to submit the cities to
oppression. Sometimes they won their freedom by hard fighting, more often they
purchased it, perhaps from some noble who needed money to go on a crusade. In
France, England, and Spain, where the royal power was strong, the cities
obtained exemption from their feudal burdens, but did not become entirely
self-governing. In Germany and Italy, on the other hand, the weakness of the
central government permitted many cities to secure complete independence. They
became true republics, like the old Greek city-states.
CHARTERS
The contract which the citizens extorted from their lord
was known as a charter. It specified what taxes they should be required to pay
and usually granted to them various privileges, such as those of holding
assemblies, electing magistrates, and raising militia for local defense. The
revolt of the cities gradually extended over all western Europe, so that at the
end of the fourteenth century hardly any of them lacked a charter.
