I don't know if I can summarize as what some historian said about rulers in the middle ages. But I'll take a go at it. Question: Were rulers callous and violen

I don't know if I can summarize as what some historian said about rulers in the middle ages. But I'll take a go at it. Question: Were rulers callous and violent or were they pious and fearful of being judged in the afterlife? Ans: Yes. Also I do remember a reference to an actual will by a knight who renounced his crimes and left a bunch of his wealth to charity. I think it's hard to understand how back then the system, especially for a member of the ruling class, was more like the mafia than what we experience today. As such it'd be hard for someone not to get caught up in it.