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European authority in the High Middle Ages faced a complete lack of structure and centralization. To create a more centralized government, medieval monarchs all strove to meet common goals; to extend royal authority, improve public order, create an efficient means of communication, and increase tax revenues. The efforts of these monarchs were successful in laying the foundations for the modern states of England, France, and Germany. Although the medieval rulers set common goals, a common method could not be used to achieve them. Diverse situations required a different approach in each region. After the death of the English king, Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon claimant to the throne was defeated in the battle of Hastings by the Duke of Normandy, also known as William the Conqueror. William replaced the previous Anglo-Saxon sheriffs with Normans. The Norman sheriffs were responsible for keeping the peace in the shire as well as collecting taxes from the feudal lords. Contrary to England, France lacked royal authority over the existing provinces. Each province was virtually independent and was hostile towards a king. However, basing his strength in the Ile-de-France, The French King, Philip Augustus, sought to extend his ro