After the year 1000, conditions in Europe again changed-this time for the better. The Vikings no longer endangered life and property. The Muslims no longer threatened western Europe. Instead, the European Christians carried war to the Muslim lands in the east with a series of "wars for the cross," or Crusades.
             But the most important change after 1000 resulted from the success that kings in several countries had in bringing the feudal lords under control and checking private wars.
             France Louis VI (1081-1137)-called Louis the Fat-heaved his bulky body into the saddle and personally led campaigns to punish cruel lords who abused their power. His grandson, Philip 11 (1165-1223), or Philip Augustus, appointed special officials, called bailiffs, who traveled within their districts keeping watch on the lords somewhat as Charlemagne's agents had done. It is interesting to note that a later king, Louis IX (1214-70), found it necessary to appoint other officials to keep check on the bailiffs-watchers to watch the watchmen.
             Louis IX was so religious that the Church in 1297 declared him a saint. Louis did his best to see that no man was treated unfairly in his realm. He would seat himself beneath a tree and invite anyone who had been unable to get justice from his lord or the regular courts to come and state his case.
             Philip IV (1268-1314), called Philip the Fair because of his fine looks, was not so good a man as Saint Louis. However, he did even more to make the king the real ruler of the kingdom.
             England The kings of England gained greater power over their feudal lords than did the French monarchs. This was partly because William I (1027?-87) was a duke of Normandy who had won the English crown by conquest. He took care that his local lords did not have too much independence or power. William the Conqueror did not want any other duke or lord to do what he had done.
             William's son Henry I (1068-1135) and great-grandson Henry II ...