Feudalism

What is feudalism?

• From the 10^th and 11^th centuries onwards, a new political, economic and social system called feudalism appeared in western Europe.

• The monarchs, unable to defend and control their kingdoms, granted lands (fiefdoms) to nobles and clergy (feudal lords) to govern on their behalf. In exchange, these lords became their vassals, pledged allegiance to them and provided them with military assistance.

• Society was divided into three estates. While the first two estates enjoyed all the privileges (the nobility and clergy), the third (peasants and artisans) had none and paid all the taxes.

Feudal Society. Vicens-Vives

The feudal monarchy

• The monarch sat at the top of the feudal pyramid and was considered chosen by God to govern society in his name.

• The Holy Roman Emperor was regarded by the Pope as the defender of  Christianity and the guardian of its unity.

The nobility

• The nobility's primary social function was to fight. They formed a chivalric order made up of people (knights) who were trained in combat.

• Nobles lived in fortified castles, from which they governed and managed their fiefdoms. In times of war or danger, the castle became a place of refuge for the fiefdom's inhabitants. As a result, to withstand an attack, it had to be self-sufficient.

• The sons of noble families were brought up to become knights. To make sure they were always ready for battle, they took part in tournaments and hunting parties.

Castle. Vicens-Vives

The Clergy

Depending on their role, they were divided into the following:

• Secular clergy, composed of priests and bishops who attended to the believers.

• Regular clergy, made up of monks and nuns dedicated to prayer. They lived in monasteries in the countryside or convents in the cities.

Not all members of the clergy enjoyed the same standard of living.

• The high clergy (cardinals, bishops, abbots, etc.) had the same privileges as the nobles.

• The lower clergy (parish priests, monks, etc.) lived similar lives to the peasants.

Clergy. Vicens-Vives

The peasantry

• The vast majority of the population were peasant. They lived in small villages and farmed the lands granted to them by the lord (peasant holdings).

• Many were serfs and had to pay the lord numerous taxes. They were also under the jurisdiction of the lord, who could issue orders and impart justice.

Glossary

armed retinue (n): a group of soldiers who accompanied a knight.

artisan (n): a person skilled at making objects by hand.

clergy (n): representatives of the Church, for example, bishops, priests and monks.

coat of arms (n): a design in the form of a shield that represents a noble family.

court (n): the people accompanying a monarch or other high-ranking person.

demense (n): the best land in a fiefdom, which the lord reserved for himself.

entailed property (n): land that can be inherited by a lord's descendants, but not sold.

estate (n): one of three social classes (nobility, clergy and ordinary people) into which people were born and remained for life.

fallow land (n): agricultural land that is not currently in use.

fiefdom (n): the area of land possessed by a nobleman in exchange for feudal service to the lord.

holding (n): an area of land given to a peasant in exchange for taxes or labour.

knight (n): a trained warrior who gave military service to a king or feudal lord during the Middle Ages.

manorial rents (n): income received by a lord from the peasants living on his land in the form of rent and taxes.

nobility (n): a privileged social class whose titles are inherited or given by royal decree.

non-privileged (adj): the class of people in the medieval period who were forced to work to support the privileged classes. They were composed of peasants and artisans.

parishioner (n): someone who lives in a parish, a neighbourhood assigned to a church.

peasant (n): a person who worked on the land, had very little money and a low social position.

privileged (adj): the class of people who owned the land and did not work or pay taxes during the Middle Ages. They were composed of the nobility and clergy.

royal insignia (n): symbols of a monarch's power, for example, the crown and the sceptre.

tournament (n): an event in which groups of knights fought for a prize.