This volume is the result of discussions held by an international group studying the medieval state, discussions that aimed at moving beyond the limitations of research traditions at the national level. Rather than dealing with the terminological question whether the term state should be used for early medieval kingdoms at all, the question was raised how political integration was reached and how supra-regional communities were shaped by the interaction of monarchs and aristocracy, Christian and lay institutions, as well as kingdoms and their people. The contributions offer case studies that discuss both perceptions of the state and the various ways that public rule worked. They take into account the varying research approaches found in Europe, but offer a much wider view of the early medieval state by considering various forms of political integration and abstract perceptions of the community.