The reign of Countess Mahaut of Artois (r. 1302-29) was marred by a series of economic, political, and environmental crises. Her unusually detailed financial accounts, which survive in impressive numbers, represent a unique opportunity to explore the interconnections between man and environment in a pre-modern world. I demonstrate that Mahaut and her retainers carefully managed, and even expanded, the estate of Hesdin and her other holdings as part of an ecological system. Further, I prove that rural parks were critical political tools used for more than the production of venison. Crucial elements in a social and political program, Mahaut's park shored up her political authority in the face of economic, environmental, and political disturbance. I supplement my analysis of Mahaut's financial accounts and political documents with a study of contemporary literature on the perception of gardens, parks, agriculture, as well as its many uses. These documents illustrate the pervasiveness of the natural resource management utilized on Mahaut's lands. I argue that parks were an aristocratic convention in northern Europe, and that they were integral elements in the aggressive fight for political dominance in the twilight years of the French feudal state. Mahaut and other high-ranking nobles maintained large, elaborate homes and pleasure parks during such crises because the manipulation of natural resources and landscapes affirmed political authority and funded the elite lifestyle as service-based relationships crumbled. Thus, this dissertation helps us understand how medieval people perceived and exploited the environment, and how, in turn, local environments shaped medieval society and politics.