LO: To explain why William introduced the Feudal System to England.
To describe how the Feudal system worked.

STARTER
Can you identify the man sitting down?
The man sitting down in
King William I – William the Conqueror
What is happening in this picture?
The man kneeling down is a Norman lord – he is swearing to be loyal to
William.

What sorts of problems did William face once he was crowned king of
England?
I CANNOT TRUST THE SAXON LORDS TO CONTROL
THE COUNTRY FOR ME.
I NEED TO COLLECT TAXES BUT I DON’T KNOW WHO
OWNS WHAT.
IF I DON’T STOP THE REBELS IN THE NORTH THEY
WILL SUPPORT A VIKING REBELLION.

You have already seen that William built castles all around
England to help him control the land and its people.
William also introduced a new social system into England. It was called the Feudal System.

• The Domesday Book: “Day of Judgement”
• Recorded how many people live in each shire (county), what they owned (land and animals) how much land was being farmed, and how much was it worth?
• Could he charge higher taxes to those living on land he had not granted them?

1.)
F
Land was the basis of all wealth
• Given to nobles in exchange for loyalty to the king

F
• Loyalty between nobles and king sealed by an oath. Obligations upheld by the nobles in return for king’s protection and justice
• Serve in army (~40 days), supply other knights to army, serve in king’s court, give political advice, supply money

3.) F aith
• All of society was to believe in the
Catholic faith. In doing so, taking an oath of loyalty would be bound by religious faith.
Breaking this bond would be a sin.

HOW DID THE FEUDAL SYSTEM WORK?
KING
BISHOPS BARONS
(nobles)
KNIGHTS
(nobles)
ABOVE ALL THIS
WAS GOD!
Freeholders/
Serfs
(lower class)

Swearing allegiance (loyalty) to the king, or to someone of higher class.
• Oath to king comes with
• All nobles would serve in the army for certain amount of days (around 40)
• Supply king with additional knights during war time
• Nobles would serve in King’s court, give political advice
• Give King money on certain occasions: marriage of oldest daughter, son is knighted