The Feudal System
The feudal system was a medieval social class similar to the caste system of India and the Hindus, but it didn't pertain to only one specific culture or area; the feudal system applied to just about every kingdom and social pyramid of the Middle Ages. It primarily described land ownership, but the feudal pyramid itself showed the class levels.
KING; STATE; ALLODIAL OWNER
The king owned all the land in the kingdom. This was due to what is called an allodium, meaning he had absolute ownership and rights to every square inch of land without performing service to a superior or overlord. Not only was he the richest person, but he was the most powerful: he made the laws; he said when to go to war, who with, and when to come home; he gave royal promotions; he ordered executions, etc., etc. The king received the throne by being born into the royal family; he was normally the firstborn, or, upon parental judgement, the most deserving of the crown.
BARON; NOBLE; TENANT-IN-CHIEF; VASSAL
Directly below the king was the tenant-in-chief, also referred to as the baron or noble. He was was the only other person that owned land, and he answered only to the king or the king's direct associates. His role in the system was to administer land to the knights and train the knights for military service and the chance to become a tenant-in-chief. The tenant-in-chief was loyal to his king for life; if he was found otherwise, his land was revoked and he was exiled, executed, or made to work the land as a peasant.
BISHOP
The bishop had as much power as the tenant-in-chief, but instead of covering simply land, the bishop controlled the church. He watched over the priest(s), as well as the covenants and minor monasteries associated with that particular house of worship. The bishop also acted as a tax collector; this made the bishops the second-richest person in the feudal pyramid, second only to the king.
KNIGHT; LORD
The knight, or lord as is commonly referred to, was normally someone of military association*, usually to a nobleman or, if distinguished enough, directly to the king himself. He was granted land from a tenant-in-chief in exchange for military service, and through many years of loyalty and honorable service, could be granted the title of tenant-in-chief. He, and rarely she, answered to the barons and the royal family and controlled the peasants or villeins. Should a knight prove disloyal to his noble or be found guilty of treason, he should suffer from forfeiture, meaning he has to give up his land and all peasants working it and he loses his knighthood.
PEASANT; SERF; VILLEIN, MERCHANT, ARTISAN, SMITHS
The bottom tier of the feudal pyramid was reserved for the lowest of the medieval classes, naturally. It consisted of:
The king owned all the land in the kingdom. This was due to what is called an allodium, meaning he had absolute ownership and rights to every square inch of land without performing service to a superior or overlord. Not only was he the richest person, but he was the most powerful: he made the laws; he said when to go to war, who with, and when to come home; he gave royal promotions; he ordered executions, etc., etc. The king received the throne by being born into the royal family; he was normally the firstborn, or, upon parental judgement, the most deserving of the crown.
BARON; NOBLE; TENANT-IN-CHIEF; VASSAL
Directly below the king was the tenant-in-chief, also referred to as the baron or noble. He was was the only other person that owned land, and he answered only to the king or the king's direct associates. His role in the system was to administer land to the knights and train the knights for military service and the chance to become a tenant-in-chief. The tenant-in-chief was loyal to his king for life; if he was found otherwise, his land was revoked and he was exiled, executed, or made to work the land as a peasant.
BISHOP
The bishop had as much power as the tenant-in-chief, but instead of covering simply land, the bishop controlled the church. He watched over the priest(s), as well as the covenants and minor monasteries associated with that particular house of worship. The bishop also acted as a tax collector; this made the bishops the second-richest person in the feudal pyramid, second only to the king.
KNIGHT; LORD
The knight, or lord as is commonly referred to, was normally someone of military association*, usually to a nobleman or, if distinguished enough, directly to the king himself. He was granted land from a tenant-in-chief in exchange for military service, and through many years of loyalty and honorable service, could be granted the title of tenant-in-chief. He, and rarely she, answered to the barons and the royal family and controlled the peasants or villeins. Should a knight prove disloyal to his noble or be found guilty of treason, he should suffer from forfeiture, meaning he has to give up his land and all peasants working it and he loses his knighthood.
PEASANT; SERF; VILLEIN, MERCHANT, ARTISAN, SMITHS
The bottom tier of the feudal pyramid was reserved for the lowest of the medieval classes, naturally. It consisted of:
- peasants, who farmed the land of their lord, or, if their labor was noticed and appreciated, farmed their own portion of granted land;
- merchants, who, as you may know, dealt in the fine art of trade and commerce;
- artisans, who practiced a particular trade other than farming and commerce for life, such as crafting or weaving; and finally,
- the metal smiths:
- blacksmiths, who crafted such items as weapons and armor;
- silversmiths who, as stated in their name, crafted such things as silverware and fine silver cutlery; and lastly
- the goldsmiths, who crafted things from gold, including but not limited to platters, jewelry, and sometimes the crown, if high enough in prestige.
*There were actually four classes of knighthood:
**This term is a personal reference to being in the top tier of the feudal pyramid thus being a "royal top-dweller."
- KNIGHT'S TENURE: The standard and most basic of the knighthoods, where the knight trades military service to his overlord in exchange for land.
- FRANKALMOIGNE: This was a more peaceful knighthood, and more spiritual; the knight acted as subtenant (or in this case, known more as a clergyman) to the priest or bishop, and in return was granted a generous estate in land.
- SERGEANTY: This type of knighthood was the second-most known and popular. As briefly explained above, it consisted of personal association to the king and royal family, sometimes as a guard, perhaps, or a knighted scribe or quartermaster, for example.
- SOCAGE: The knight or landholder was required to pay his noble or landowner for his land, almost like modern rent payments.
**This term is a personal reference to being in the top tier of the feudal pyramid thus being a "royal top-dweller."