 Inter-family struggles amongst the various branches of the royal family played a part, as did the granting of royal estates (the so-called "villae") to the Northumbrian Roman church (in return for support for the various attempts on the throne), encouraged by the aristocracy who wished to lessen the burden of royal power and taxation.Cuthbert's grant of lands around Cartmel was one example of this process of degradation of royal resources and power.The huge estates given to the Church meant that it became an alternative power-base to the king.