The Feudal System

Question 1

What was the hierarchy (order) of the Feudal System?

Answer 1

Kings,
Tenants-in-chief (barons, bishops, noblemen),
Under-tenants (Knights, clergy)
Peasants (freemen, villeins, cottars)

Question 2

What was the whole Feudal System based on?

Answer 2

You got land if you were loyal and paid homage by doing your service.

Question 3

What did you do for Knight Service?

Answer 3

I. Serve in the King’s army for 40 days at no cost to the King.

II. Guard the King’s castles for two months a year.

Question 4

What did you do for Labour Service?

Answer 4

I. Labour service produced all the food for the country. Labour service was carried out by Freemen, Cottars and Villeins.

II. Villeins had to work for the lord of the manor on certain days of the week; Cottars worked one day a week and Freemen simply had to pay rent to live on the land.

Question 5

What did the King do if he needed an army for longer than 40 days?

Answer 5

He would ask for a tax called a Scutage. This would be used to pay for foot soldiers, bowmen and engineers.

Question 6

Oath of loyalty

Answer 6

An oath of loyalty (fealty) would be promised in exchange for land. As part of this promise, the vassal would perform service for their overlord such as knight service.

Question 7

Paying homage

Answer 7

The ceremonial act of swearing an oath of loyalty in which a vassal made someone their overlord in exchange for land or help.

Question 8

Vassal

Answer 8

Was in debt to their overlord and had to be loyal to them / pay them a service

Question 9

Forfeiture

Answer 9

If a vassal did not perform their service that they’d sworn to do through an oath of loyalty then their land was taken away from them.

Question 10

Royal Demesne

Answer 10

20% of the land in England was kept by the king himself. This land was managed, rent paid and forest fines collected for use of the land. This generated more revenue for the King.

Question 11

Who were the tenants-in-chief?

Answer 11

Granted land by the king in return for loyalty and service

→ Most important service was to provide knights for the King’s army

→ Most important tenants-in-chief were the barons and bishops who advised the King

Question 12

Who where the peasants

Answer 12

→Freemen: A peasant who paid rent for their land, they were free to move as they liked

→ Villein / serf: A peasant who was the property of their lord. They could not move village. Most peasants were villeins

→ Cottar: A peasant who held a cottage with a small piece of loans attached in return for labour services.