How did European rulers centralize power and control the nobility?

European rulers centralized power and controlled the nobility primarily through the establishment of strong centralized governments, often accompanied by bureaucracies that diminished the influence of local lords. They implemented legal reforms to establish royal courts that undermined noble jurisdictions and created standing armies to reduce reliance on feudal levies. Additionally, many rulers offered privileges and financial incentives to lower-ranking nobles and commoners, thereby building loyalty and reducing the power of the traditional aristocracy. This consolidation of power was often reinforced through marriage alliances and strategic diplomacy.