Hiroshi Takayama

Frederick II's crusade: an example of Christian–Muslim diplomacy

Frederick IIs crusade is unique in the bloody history of crusades for its success in recapturing Jerusalem through negotiations with the sultan of Egypt without any battles. Here Frederick IIs diplomatic relations with Muslim rulers, particularly al-Kāmil, sultan of Egypt are reconstructed, by examining available sources in order to understand this crusade in terms of his long relationship with Muslim rulers.

The local administrative system of France under Philip IV (1285–1314) - baillis and seneschals

In this article, I propose a new framework for understanding the administrative structure of France under Philip IV. I focus on baillis and seneschals, who were two types of major officials governing local districts (bailliages or senechaussees) in France by the late thirteenth century. Baillis were usually located in the northern part of France, while seneschals were found in the south. It has been generally assumed that, despite their different titles, baillis and seneschals had almost identical functions in royal administration. I call this overly simplified understanding into question, and suggest that baillis and seneschals had completely different administrative functions, reflecting the different characteristics of bailliages and senechaussees. In the bailliages, under the direct control of the king, baillis and their subordinate officials were delegated a small portion of the kings power (“a qualitative division of royal power” was made). In the senechaussees outside the direct protection of the ...