Top 10 list of things European kings did to gain more power

1. Common set of laws- "Gradually he and his successors united the kingdom under one rule, calling it England-- "Land of the Angles."" HENRY II
2. State officials to enforce the laws- "He established royal officials called bailiffs."PHILIP AUGUSTUS
3. Court system for centralized justice- "Edward summoned two burgesses from every borough and two knights from every county to serve as a parliament, or legislative group." HENRY II, LOUIS IX
4. Tax collection by central government- "They were sent from Paris to every district in the kingdom to preside over the king's courts and collect the king's taxes." PHILIP AUGUSTUS, WILLIAM THE CONQUERER, DOMESDAY BOOK
5. Standing army loyal to the king- "Only Alfred the Great, king from 871 to 899, managed to turn back the viking invaders."EDWARD I
6. Make people who would pose as a threat part of the government- "William's rival was Harold Godwinson, the Anglo-Saxon who claimed the throne." " In 1402, King Edward the confessor, a descendent of the Anglo-saxon Alfred the great, took the throne."PHILIP AUGUSTUS
7. Get religion to a firm of your power- "These invaders were so feared that a special prayer was said in churches."PHILIP IV