Norman Hierarchy Flashcards
What was the feudal system
New hierarchy introduced by William
What did the feudal system do
Increased the power of the king
Reduced the power of the earls
Ended slavery
Who was at the top of the system
The king
What did the king do
Granted land and tax concessions
Provided peace law and protection in return for loyalty and service
Who were the tenants-in-chief
Lords bishops abbots
What did the tenants in chief do
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
What did the tenants-in-chief give to under-tenants
Granted land and other privileges
Who were the under-tenants
Vassals knights
What did the under-tenants do
Military service in return for land tax and relief
Justice (manorial courts)
What did the under-tenants do for peasants
Provided land to be worked
Who were the peasants
Some free men but the majority were bound to one lord
What did the peasants do
Land service (farming on vassals land) /rent
What is a fief or a feud
And held by a vassal in return for service to a lord
What is homage
A display of loyalty to the lord
(Oath taken to king or their lord)
What is barony
Lands held by a baron (tenant-in-chief
Why was the feudal system a good way of making sure that the king had military power without having to pay for it
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
How did feudal system solve the problem of expensive knights
Knight service meant that William had constant supply of trained soldiers who were loyal to him
What was their always a risk of
Barons becoming too powerful
How did the feudal system allow king to control barons
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)
What was the problem with the rich
They wanted to stay rich
How did the feudal system keep the rich rich
Vassals provided military service for his fief
Peasants have labour service for their lord in return for land and protection
At what cost did being protected by the lord come with
No social mobility
We’re tied to their lord and couldn’t leave
Unable to move classes
