Norman Hierarchy

Question 1

What was the feudal system

Answer 1

New hierarchy introduced by William

Question 2

What did the feudal system do

Answer 2

Increased the power of the king
Reduced the power of the earls
Ended slavery

Question 3

Who was at the top of the system

Answer 3

The king

Question 4

What did the king do

Answer 4

Granted land and tax concessions
Provided peace law and protection in return for loyalty and service

Question 5

Who were the tenants-in-chief

Answer 5

Lords bishops abbots

Question 6

What did the tenants in chief do

Answer 6

Military - fought for the king and led their knights
Social- law courts to deal with barony land disputes
Economic - paid the king tax from their large revenues
Political - often served on the royal council as advisors

Question 7

What did the tenants-in-chief give to under-tenants

Answer 7

Granted land and other privileges

Question 8

Who were the under-tenants

Answer 8

Vassals knights

Question 9

What did the under-tenants do

Answer 9

Military service in return for land tax and relief
Justice (manorial courts)

Question 10

What did the under-tenants do for peasants

Answer 10

Provided land to be worked

Question 11

Who were the peasants

Answer 11

Some free men but the majority were bound to one lord

Question 12

What did the peasants do

Answer 12

Land service (farming on vassals land) /rent

Question 13

What is a fief or a feud

Answer 13

And held by a vassal in return for service to a lord

Question 14

What is homage

Answer 14

A display of loyalty to the lord
(Oath taken to king or their lord)

Question 15

What is barony

Answer 15

Lands held by a baron (tenant-in-chief

Question 16

Why was the feudal system a good way of making sure that the king had military power without having to pay for it

Answer 16

Knights were expensive to equip maintain and train but William needed lots of them
The feudal system developed so William received knight Service in return for grants of land and William still used the fyrd

Question 17

How did feudal system solve the problem of expensive knights

Answer 17

Knight service meant that William had constant supply of trained soldiers who were loyal to him

Question 18

What was their always a risk of

Answer 18

Barons becoming too powerful

Question 19

How did the feudal system allow king to control barons

Answer 19

Forfeiture meant that William had the power to punish anyone by tasking their land away and giving it to someone loyal
Before this son would inherit their fathers land
William made it so inheritance dependent on homage(loyalty)

Question 20

What was the problem with the rich

Answer 20

They wanted to stay rich

Question 21

How did the feudal system keep the rich rich

Answer 21

Vassals provided military service for his fief
Peasants have labour service for their lord in return for land and protection

Question 22

At what cost did being protected by the lord come with

Answer 22

No social mobility
We’re tied to their lord and couldn’t leave
Unable to move classes