3.1.1

The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Jump to other topics

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

3Norman England, 1066-88

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