The great era of constitutionalism spans from the American revolution
of 1776 to the octroyed French constitution of 1814. Yet, the
European constitutional mechanisms and way of reasoning can be
traced much further back. This volume displays the need to expand,
restrain and at the same time legitimise state power from the 12th
century and beyond the great era of constitutionalism in order to
demonstrate its historical reach.
The Church was an early example of a state-like and centralised
power, and thus contributed greatly to the development of a state
organised Europe. This volume examines the Church as a driving
force behind constitutional reasoning and as a developer of constitutional
practice throughout the Middle Ages. Feudal law, with its
contractual based system of rights and duties, could regulate society
on several levels and thus was another source for constitutional reasoning
and practices.