What was the feudal system?
The feudal system was an ordered system of government in the Middle Ages. At the top of the government was the king, then the lords and the bishop, then lesser nobles and knights and finally peasants. In around 800 CE Charlemagne, king of the Franks, gave land to churchmen and wealthy families in return for service and loyalty. Charlemagne's system was based on practices that had existed for centuries, but the feudal system was first clearly seen in this time. Within the feudal system the king was the owner of all land in a kingdom. The next most powerful class were the lords and bishops. In return for land and control over peasants who worked it, these nobles were required to give the king their loyalty, fight for him in wars and provide him with a proportion of taxes collected from the peasants. Below the nobles were the knights and lesser nobles. In return for a smaller portion of land, they gave loyalty to their lord, fought for him and provided him with taxes from their peasants. At the bottom of the system were peasants. Peasants worked land for free and struggled to live from day to day. Feudalism died out in roughly 1500 CE due to the 'Black Death' and the growth of trade in large cities. |