3.1.1
The Norman Feudal Hierarchy
The Norman Feudal Hierarchy
The Norman Feudal Hierarchy
Feudalism was a hierarchical system. William I declared himself the owner of all England after winning the Battle of Hastings and sat at the top of the feudal system.
![Illustrative background for The king and his tenants](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/3a645180-521d-4cd3-a1af-ea49b85557b1/shutterstock_141589156,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for The king and his tenants ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/3a645180-521d-4cd3-a1af-ea49b85557b1/shutterstock_141589156,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
The king and his tenants
The king and his tenants
- William I made his supporters and allies 'tenants'.
- William gave his tenants land. You'll remember that his allies in the invasion of England were given Earldoms in the Marcher Earldoms.
- Tenants were expected to be loyal to the king. They were expected to contribute troops, knights and military forces to the king if he asked.
![Illustrative background for Tenants-in-chief and under-tenants](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/f3dafabf-4eb9-41a4-9d60-814821a28b63/shutterstock_462646417,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Tenants-in-chief and under-tenants ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/f3dafabf-4eb9-41a4-9d60-814821a28b63/shutterstock_462646417,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Tenants-in-chief and under-tenants
Tenants-in-chief and under-tenants
- The most important tenants were called tenants-in-chief.
- Tenants-in-chief included lords, barons, bishops, and abbots. (Being part of the Church was an influential position. When William was overseas, the Archbishop of Canterbury often oversaw the running of England).
- The people under the tenants-in-chief were called 'under-tenants'. They were also called vassals.
- Tenants-in-chief would grant loyal supporters land, money and other benefits for supporting them.
- The vassals would pay taxes to their tenant-in-chief and would also fight for the tenant-in-chief if requested.
![Illustrative background for Peasants](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/8111f8c5-9e43-49a4-82dc-b67fbd43728b/farm-farmer-clogs-peasant-france-,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
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Peasants
Peasants
- As in Anglo-Saxon society, peasants were the lowest rung in society.
- Vassals would give their peasants a small plot of land to farm. The peasants would give them food produce or pay rent in exchange.
![Illustrative background for Knights](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/5.2.3 Radioactive decay/knight-2669345_640-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Knights ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/5.2.3 Radioactive decay/knight-2669345_640-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Knights
Knights
- Knights were some of the best soldiers in England. Barons and lords (who were tenants-in-chief in the feudal hierarchy) had to provide knights to the king for 1-2 months of the year. This was called 'knight service'.
- Some knights were members of the nobility and some knights lived like peasants. However, they could all fight.
- William again relied on tenants-in-chief for knights and tenants-in-chief would call on their under-tenants in a cascading hierarchy.
![Illustrative background for Feudal control](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/43e9c3d5-28d9-4a93-8b7c-dd3025a02280/shutterstock_753619510,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Feudal control ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/43e9c3d5-28d9-4a93-8b7c-dd3025a02280/shutterstock_753619510,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Feudal control
Feudal control
- The feudal system created a cascade of something like ownership. People were obliged to the people above them in the hierarchy.
- Any tenant-in-chief who upset William could have their land and money removed.
- Any under-tenant who upset their tenant-in-chief could also have their land and money removed.
- The act of taking away someone's land or money was called forfeiture.
1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66
1.1Anglo-Saxon Society
1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis
1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne
2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87
2.1Establishing Control
2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance
2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087
2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075
3Norman England, 1066-88
3.1The Feudal System & the Church
3.2Norman Government
3.3The Norman Aristocracy
Jump to other topics
1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66
1.1Anglo-Saxon Society
1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis
1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne
2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87
2.1Establishing Control
2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance
2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087
2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075
3Norman England, 1066-88
3.1The Feudal System & the Church
3.2Norman Government
3.3The Norman Aristocracy
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