Decadence of the Mark. 43 



Cromwell, and in France under Colbert's influence. 

 This fiscal policy, which was bent upon bringing cash 

 into the country, led, under the direction of servile 

 officials, to oppressive measures. A reaction naturally 

 followed, when it was pointed out that the real wealth 

 of a nation lies in its natural resources and in its 

 labor. But this so-called physiocratic doctrine had 

 little practical influence except to prepare men's 

 minds for the reception of the teachings of Adam 

 Smith at the end of the period. 



The doctrine of the Roman law, deified by the 

 jurists and commentators, undermined the national 

 conceptions and institutions of free citizenship and 

 of existing property relations; courts, legislation and 

 administration were subject to their sway, and this 

 influence lasted, in spite of reactions, until the end 

 of the 18th century. Under it the doctrine of the 

 imperiutn the seignorage or superior power of the 

 princes (Hoheitsrecht) was further developed into 

 the dominium terrae, i.e., superior ownership of all 

 the land, which gives rise to the title and the exercise 

 of the function of " Landesherren" masters of the 

 land, and confers the privilege of curtailing and even 

 discontinuing private property rights. To sustain 

 their position in each of the state units, a restriction 

 of the autonomy of churches and cloisters, of the 

 Mark and of the vassals became needful to the 

 princes. This was secured by taking the first under 

 their protection, by making themselves Obermarkers, 

 and by changing vassals who held office in fief into 

 employes (Beamte). For a time the three privileged 

 classes of prelates, knights and burghers, combined 



