Changes Under the Normans - The Feudal System
History: KS3, topic 1.13.19
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Changes Under the Normans - The Feudal System
Who were 'tenants' in Norman England?
Which of these were not tenants-in-chief?
Who were the knights?