France
Development of the Royal Court
Louis contributed greatly to the expansion of royal territorial control. After long negotiations, he married his son to Anne of Brittany, bringing that chronically troublesome duchy under the crown.
Both Anjou and Maine fell vacant during Louis' reign and he recovered them by escheat. Picardy and Artois he also recovered.
The Royal Council of France was composed of princes of the blood, peers of the realm, plus additional members appointed by the king. It was very large under Louis XI (about 60 members) but was smaller under Charles VIII and Louis XII. This is where much of the work of government was done, with the Council forming sub-committees to handle specific cases or tasks or legislation. Nothing yet was fixed and permanent; committees were ad hoc, formed to meet the need at hand and then disbanded.
The office of Chancellor had been gaining steadily in importance, and under Louis was the second most important position, after the throne itself. The Chancellor was the highest judicial officer of the crown, appointed for life. Since a great deal of business was handled through the courts, including disputes between towns, quarrels among the nobility, and even taxation, the Chancellor was an extremely important post.