The feudal system: The political, military, and social system in the Middle Ages, based on the holding of lands in fief or fee and on the resulting relations between lord and vassal.
"Those who fought, those who prayed, and those who worked."
- Medieval writers
The feudal system is based on mutual obligations between Lords and vassals. In the feudal system, wealthy Nobles, or Lords will give a fief, or land to a vassal in exchange for military protection or other services.
King: In Feudalism, the King who ruled over the country was not very involved in the cycle. The cycle of Feudalism mainly revolved around Lord's, Knights, Priests, and Peasants. The citizens of the country were still loyal to the King, but they were mostly preoccupied with being loyal to their Lord. Nobles: In the Feudal System, Nobles were rich land owners who would grant fiefs, or land to vassals in return for them to take care of the land or protect the land using military force. The Nobles in this cycle would be the Lords who would give fiefs to peasants in exchange for the peasants to work the land. The wealth of these Lords came from the labor of the pesants. The lords would also give land to Kights, who in return would protect the land from invaders. The Lords would live in Manors, castle-like houses, while the Kights and Peasants would live in cottages spread around the Lord's land. For living on the Lord's land, Peasants had to pay high priced taxes, like taxes on grounding grain in the Lord's mill and getting married. Knights: Kights were mounted warriors who pledged to defend their Lord's land from invaders, in exchange for fiefs, or land. Peasants: Peasants were poor citizens who would farm or practice another service on the lords land in exchange for fiefs, or land. The peasants made or produced almost everything they or their Lord needed for daily life. |