A NEW SYSTEM OF RULE
Feudalism was a loosely organized system of rule in which powerful local lords divided their large lands among the lesser lords. In the face of invasions by Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars, kings and emperor were too week to maintain law and order. People needed to defend their homes and lands. In response for that basic need for protection, a new system, called feudalism, evolved. The feudal society was constructed for one reason and that is security. The nobles wanted the security of maintaining control over their far-reaching kingdoms, so they were forced to delegate power to local control. The peasants wanted security from marauders and barbarians from neighboring lands. They also wanted security from invading armies. And thus the development of the feudal system and the fief structure was almost inevitable.
The organisation of the Feudal System
Under feudalism, everyone had a well-defined place in society. At the head of the society was the monarch. The monarch was in complete control under the Feudal System. He owned all the land in the country and decided who he would lease land to. However, before they were given any land they had to swear an oath to remain faithful to the King at all times.The men who leased land from the King were known as Lords, they were wealthy, powerful and had complete control of the land they leased from the King. These lords gave land to the lesser lords,or vassals. The lords kept as much of their land as they wished for their own use, then divided the rest among their Knights. Knights were the ones who divided their lands among the peasants.Peasants, or serfs, were at the bottom of the Feudal system. They had to provide the Knight with food and service whenever it was demanded. They had no rights and were not allowed to leave the Manor. They even had to ask their Lord's permission before they could marry.
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Relationship Between lords and vassals
The relationship between lords and vassals was established by custom and tradition. A lord granted his vassal a fief, or estate. These lands included peasant to work the land, as well as any towns or buildings on the land. The lord also promised to protect his vassal.
In return, the vassal pledged loyalty to his lord. He also agreed to provide the lord with 40 days of military service each year certain money payments, and advice. If a vassal manages to serve two lords who happened to wage a battle, then the vassal must continue to serve both by sending half of his men to battle for the rival lord and the other half of his men to the other opposing lord. However, Disloyalty results in death. |