Feudalism

Feudalism Most people in the Middle Ages lived on a manor, which consisted of the Castle, the Church, the Village, and the surrounding farm land. These manors were isolated, with some visits from Peddlers, which were Pilgrims that were on their way to the crusades, or soldiers from other fiefdoms. In this Feudal system the King awards land grants or “Fiefs” to his most important Nobles, Barons, and his Bishops in return for his contribution of soldiers for the Kings Army. The Peasants or “Serfs” would get protection for living and working on the Kings Land. Feudalism impacted the middle ages by giving class systems the dominant form of social ranking. Feudalism also created the turn against women. Feudalism sought men to think that women were "the instrument of evil".



__ VILLEINS __

Villains, Also known as a serf, given land by Knights. Were servants of the knights providing free labour, food and serves whenever it is needed. Had no rights, they were not allowed to leave the Manor and had to ask their Lord for permission to get married. Villeins were poor.

Vassals.

__ Vassals in the middle ages. __ The feudal system was established in England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. All of the land in England, claimed by William conqueror was distributed between the vassals as a reward for fighting for William. These land rewards were called fief. Vassals paid for their land by servicing their immediate lord. The land owned by the vassals varied in size but were typically between1200- 1800 acres. The vassal’s manor would include farming, forests, common pasture land, a village, a mail, a church, and a manor house. Manor housing consists of vassals and their families and was built apart from the villages where the peasants lived. The work days of a vassal consist of completing any chores required, providing trained soldiers for the king, providing equipment- clothes and weapons for the king.

Knights One of the soldiers in the medieval times, with archers and Foot Soldiers, were the knights. The knight was the most expensive and strongest soldier. With its multiple layers of armor, archers could never penetrate their armor, also with the knights with horses; they grazed through the battle field and easily took out enemy soldiers. The knights were expensive with their heavy armor and their battle horses even more expensive. Knights were rewarded with land by the king or royal official who they would give vassals as fiefs. Knights also stole valuable goods when a city was captured and go through the houses for materials. Knights began to learn a soldier’s way at early as 8 to a knight’s academy. These boys would usually be a decent of a knight or of an aristocrat. They would learn how to handle a weapon such as a sword and spear. They would also learn literature and a second language, also how to behave in the king’s court. At age 15, he would become a squire which involved serving a knight his meals, helping with equipment, and serving him. Around the age 20, a squire can prove himself a knight and there would be a ceremony in acknowledging him as a knight. Another way to become a knight was in battle when he would do heroic and courageous acts. Knights would follow the code of chivalry which was to be loyal to women, loyal to the king, serve God, and treat servants equally as sometimes these rules were not followed such as treating servant poorly, paid to fight for someone else, etc.



__Commendation Ceremony__ The fiefs were bonds between Lords and vassals. The lords would give land and resources to the vassals; in exchange the vassals would provide services to lords. This bond between lord and vassals were made official through the commendation ceremony. The person becoming a vassal would have to perform important tasks. A person would have to complete homage, or ceremony. During the homage, a person would have to show up before the lord bare-headed and weaponless, to show that he means n harm. Then the person would have to kneel before the lord. The lord would squeeze the person’s hand to show he has the power in the relationship. The homage act would be complete. The person would have to pledge their allegiance to their lord and take an oath of fealty. After the ceremony, the person would become a vassal obtain the land, and the relationship between the lord and the vassal started.

__ Fiefs __ Fiefs was basically trusting land to people. Fiefs were given to people in exchanged for services to the Kings and Nobles who owned them. The upper class would lend out land to vassals. The land lent would include a village, huts for servants, a manor house or castle, land to grow food etc. The serfs or servants would also be included with the land, even if the fief was lent out to different vassals. These fiefs were sources of income for the vassals. They could farm and make goods with the resources on the fief. In exchange for this land the vassals would have to provide services for the king or noble. The vassals would have to serve in the military, but not have to fight. The vassals would have to provide men during war. The vassals would also have to pay money for special ceremonies that the king or noble had, such as parties, or wedding. They would also have to help pay bribes if their lords (king or nobles) were kidnapped. Fiefs were an exchange of land and resources for services that benefited both parties. The Middle Ages was one of the most exciting periods in English History. It started off with the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest in England when William the Conqueror effectively took all of the lands from the Saxon English and gave them to French nobles and Hundred Years War between England and France. The Kings of England in the Middle Ages included Richard the Lionheart and the great Plantagenet English Kings from King Henry II (1154-1189) to King Edward III (1327-1377). The Medieval Kings of the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York and the Wars of the Roses. The English Kings in the Middle Ages cover the periods from 1066 - 1485.
 * Kings in the Middle Ages **

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