To what extent did the War of the Public Weal challenge royal authority in France?

The question requires that candidates consider the extent to which royal authority in France was challenged by the War of the Public Weal. Candidates may argue that the war was or was not a significant challenge, or that other contemporary challenges to royal authority were more significant. While this latter approach is acceptable, the focus of the response must be on the War of the Public Weal and its impact on royal authority with the other factors used to provide context. When addressing the challenge posed by the war itself, candidates may refer to the initial opposition (by a coalition of French feudal lords) to Louis XI’s efforts to centralize royal authority. Due to this initial response, Louis was forced to grant concessions to the feudal lords, which left a legacy of internal conflicts between various factions. These conflicts evolved into civil war and divided royal authority in France. Some candidates may argue that, ultimately, the war’s impact on royal authority was limited; the king’s rivals were disunited and were defeated by royal forces, and royal authority was expanded into all areas of government.