An evaluation of the nature of feudal society

Background

Feudal society in England was established after the Norman Conquest in 1066, replacing the Anglo-Saxon model of society and governance.
This model is often referred to as a ‘feudal’ system because land known as a ‘fief’ was granted by the king to his followers in exchange for their military service.

At the top of the hierarchy was the King, who owned all lands.
The king granted land to his most important noblemen – these were the Barons, who pledged loyalty to the king and provided him with soldiers in times of war.
The barons would then grant land to their followers, the Knights, in exchange for military service.
At the bottom of the hierarchy were the Serfs or Peasants, who worked the land.

Land Ownership: The king owned all the land and distributed it to his loyal nobles and knights, creating a complex system of land ownership and control.
Vassalage and Homage: Key to the feudal system was the concept of vassalage. A vassal was a man who offered his loyalty and service to a lord in exchange for protection and land.
Fealty or Loyalty: These relationships were formalised through a ceremony known as ‘homage’, where the vassal would kneel before the lord and swear an oath of loyalty. This was a solemn and binding agreement.
Mutual Obligations: Lords and vassals had mutual obligations to each other. The lord provided the vassal with land and protection, and in return, the vassal provided the lord with military service and advice.
Serfdom: Serfs were the peasants who worked the land. They were technically not slaves but were tied to the land and owed service to the lord.

Feudal society shaped many aspects of medieval England, from the configuration of rural communities to the nature of warfare.
It also underpinned the relationship between the Church and the state. Bishops and abbots often held lands as fiefs from the king, bringing them into the secular chain of feudal relationships.

It was an inherently unjust system, with power and wealth concentrated in the hands of the few.
It was a rigid system that provided little opportunity for social mobility.
Nevertheless, it provided a degree of order and stability following the tumultuous years of Viking invasions and warfare.