Feudal hierarchy Flashcards
Who was at the top of the feudal system?
The King was extremely powerful. He owned all the land in England but granted most of it to tenants-in-chief. It was his duty to protect his people from invasion and enforce his laws.
Who was second in the feudal system?
Tenants-in-chief were vassals of the King. Most were nobles and important clergy, such as bishops. In return for their fief, they paid homage and provided knight service to the King. The most powerful nobles and clergy were called barons. They advised the King and helped govern England. They granted some of their land to under-tenants
Who were third in the feudal system?
Under-tenants were vassals to tenants-in-chief. Most were knights and lesser clergy. In return for their land, they paid homage to their Lord and provided knight service. Under-tenants granted some of their land to peasants. Most knights were lords of a manor.
Who were at the bottom of the feudal system?
Free men could travel and work wherever they wanted. They included merchants, craftsmen and farmers. Free men in villages had to obey and pay rent to their Lord, who could be an under-tenant, tenant-in-chief or the King himself. They sometimes worked on their lord’s land, but were paid for this.
Who else was at the bottom of the feudal system?
Unfree peasants provided labour service to their Lord in return for his protection, shelter and a small strip of land to provide food for their families. Lords could buy and sell them, and they could not leave without permission. A few peasants were free (not bound to the land), but most did not leave the local Lord.
What percent of land did the King hold?
The King kept 20% of land in England for himself, for hunting, farming and renting out. His land was known as demesne. Most of the rest(approximately 55%)was run by barons, other nobles and Knights. The remaining land was controlled by the Church, which made the Church very wealthy.
Define these key terms:
Fief or feud
Tenants-in-chief
Under-tenants
Vassal
Fief or feud- land held by a vassal in return for service to a Lord.
Tenants-in-chief- someone who held their fiefs directly from the King.
Under-tenants- someone who held their fiefs from a tenant-in-chief.
Vassal- someone who held land from someone else in the feudal system.
