The Medieval World:
Feudalism
CHW3M
Chaos in Western Europe
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After collapse of Rome, constant fighting
amongst tribes and peoples of Western
Europe
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Goths, Franks, Burgundians and Lombards on
mainland
Picts, Angles/Saxons, Britons and Celts in
Britain
Vandals in North Africa and Corsica/Sardinia
Chaos in Western Europe
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Tribal leaders give land to their warriors
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Lords rule over lesser landowners and
commoners
Early Feudalism
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System of different levels of lords who rule land
under the king
Kings/Lords protect their land and people
from attack
Better under Charlemagne?
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Charlemagne is able to unify most of
Western Europe by around 800 CE
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Defeats Lombards, Moors, Saxons
But civil war breaks out after his death
New invasions (Moors from the South,
Magyars from the East, Vikings from the
North)
The Early Middle Ages
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Areas of Europe ruled by kings
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Weak kings can’t protect their land or people
People are loyal to lords who can protect
them
Feudalism
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The system of a “Warrior Aristocracy” stemmed
from a mix of several traditions:
German
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Franks
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system of personal allegiance to chief
giving land to men in exchange for military services
(became “vassals”)
Charlemagne
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freemen become cavalrymen, peasants become serfs
The Evolution of Feudalism
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Armored warriors on horseback are called
Knights (or “Chevalier”)
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Equipping a knight and providing a horse is
expensive
The training process is long
But Knights are a huge asset to the King,
so instead of paying for Knights, King
awards them with land
The Evolution of Feudalism
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Knights become the nobility – they are Lords of
a parcel of land (“fiefdom”)
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Peasants work the land for the Lord in exchange for
protection
Fiefdom and titles become hereditary
Warrior Aristocracy  Landed Aristocracy
Some Lords acquire vast fiefdoms
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Gifts from King
Conquered lands
Marriage to other Noble families
The Evolution of Feudalism
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Powerful Lords divide up their lands
among lesser Lords (vassals) who in turn
grant land to their own Vassals
Lowest level of landowner are just Knights
who have no Vassals, so only own the
land their family lives on
Spreading Feudalism
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Earliest versions in Frankish kingdom
Spreads to Italy, Germany, Spain, and
England
By 12th Century the standard in Western
Europe
Complications
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King is only one not to have a Lord
But relies on Lords to defend and administer
lands
Some Lords can have more land, command
more vassals, and even be wealthier than the
King
Hard to withstand challenges from powerful
Lords
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Only a few Kings (like Charlemagne) could
successfully control Lords and suppress rebillion
Complications
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Could find yourself being the Vassal of
more than one Lord
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Lands in different territories might be under
different Lords
Can result in conflicting loyalties
Knighthood
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Must have:
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At least 3 horses
Coat of mail, leggings,
an iron helmet,
coverings for the
shoulders and feet, a
padded surcoat and a
shield.
A lance or spear,
sword and dagger
Knighthood
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Heavy armour means surviving battle is
likely
Better to capture a Knight and ransom him
back to his Lord than to kill him
Lords will pay because they have a lot
invested in Knights
Knighthood
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Participate in tournaments to keep up
fighting skills
Winning tournaments earns wealth and
prestige
Sort of like a team sport as Knights
represent specific Lords and compete on
their behalf
Reading and Questions
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Read page 240-242
Answer Questions #1-4