Kingship and Nobility: Conflict and Cooperation in 13th-Century Medieval Society in the Přemyslid Realm
Kingship and Nobility: Conflict and Cooperation in 13th-Century Medieval Society in the Přemyslid Realm

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the dynamic interplay between kingship and nobility in 13th-century Central Europe, focusing on the Czech Lands under the Přemyslid dynasty. Employing Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital, the study analyses how economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital shaped the evolving relationship between monarchs and the secular elite. Through case studies of Přemysl Otakar I, Wenceslas I, and Přemysl Otakar II, the research demonstrates that social cohesion and the stability of medieval society was dependent on a delicate balance and the negotiation of power between these two groups. Disruption of noble capital—whether economic or political—undermined social cohesion and led to conflict, while genuine cooperation fostered stability and enabled social transformation. The findings here highlight that the rise of the noble estate and the formation of collective identity were both products of and guarantors of this negotiated equilibrium.

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