Features of Feudalism

Feudalism was a novel social system. It had several features.

1. Castle
The castle was the chief characteristic of feudalism. The feudal lords lived in huge castles or
forts. The living house and court of the Lord existed inside the castle.
The Lords stored arms and weapons and found grains inside the castle. At the time of
external invasion, it provided shelter to the common people. There was strong and high wall with
towers at intervals around the castle. In some cases the castles were surrounded by wide ditch or
moat.

From towers one could watch the movement of enemies. The gateway of the castle was very
strong. Deep ditches were dug around the castle and filled up with water. This was connected with
a bridge.

During the attack, this bridge was lifted off mild the enemy could not enter into the castle. A
feudal lord had many castle and he lived inside different castles at different time.

2. Manor
Another significant mark of feudalism was manor. The land associated with the castle was
known as manor. This was like a small estate. The castles, cultivated land, dwelling houses of
barons and church were associated with it. A feudal lord had one or more manors. According to the
possession of manors, the strength of a feudal lord was known.

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3. Demense
Another feature of feudalism was “demense”. After distributing the land among his serfs
whatever land remained with him was known as demense. This law entirely belonged to the Lord
which he could use according to his whims and caprices.

4. The Feudal Society

The division of a feudal society followed a pyramidal pattern. This society was largely an
agrarian society. The “king” was at the top of the society and he was quite powerless. Below him
was placed the “feudal lord”. Then came the “vassels” or “independent farmers”. They could resort
to independent profession and move from one place to another according to their own hill.

The lowest stratum in the society projected the “serfs”. They had neither the land of their
own, nor they were independent. They worked in the land given to them by their Lord. In one day
of the week, they worked in the field of their Lord without payment which was known as “forced
labour”. They remained inside small huts with their domestic animals like cows and pigs in a very
unhealthy condition. They had to lead a miserable life.

5. The Knight
Another characteristic feature of the feudal society was “knighthood”. A knight took oath to
fight with enemy and to protect the weak. Generally, the sons and relatives of a lord received
education and training to be a knight. When one wanted to be a knight, he had to work as a “page”
or servant near another knight. When he could serve property, he was appointed as a “squire” or
body-guard of that knight.

During that period he learnt how to clean the weapons and prepare a horse. After he
achieved mastery in these works, he was to be appointed as a knight. He had to spend a night
inside the church in prayer.

Then he had to kneel down before priest who would deliber a light blow of his palm on the
young man’s neck with the blessings-“Be a valiant knight”. This act was famous as “accolade”. After
becoming a Knight, he had to purchase horse and arms for himself. By exhibiting chivalry he could
save an old man, destiture, weak man from the clutches of injustice and tyranny. A knight also
respected a lady. They also spent their time in different plays and gymnastics. The medieval
European literature sang the glory of these knights in no uncertain terms.

6. The Rights and Duties of Feudal Lords

The lords had many duties to perform. Most of them were employed in the work of the
Government, army and diplomacy. They also looked to the administration of estates, draining of
swamps and trade and commerce. Their main duty was to save their subjects from the invaders.
The lords enjoyed certain rights too. A lord became the owner of the land of a vassal who died
leaving a minor son.

This ownership was called “wardship” and it continued till the minor came of age. In that
case, the land was to be handed over the heir on payment of a sum known as “relief,” when a vassal
died without the heir, his fiefs was taken over by the lord. This was called “escheat”. Thus, the
feudal lords had many duties which they discharged and they also enjoyed certain rights inside the
society.

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7. Duty of Vassals
In the feudal society, the vassals or subjects had certain duties towards the lord. The vassal
had to be present in the court whenever the lord needed. The vassal rendered compulsory military
service to the lord for forty days in a year. He accompanied his master to the battle field and
guarded his castle.

The vassal had to pay money to his lord or master on the occasion of his eldest daughter’s
marriage, when the lord’s eldest son became a knight and when the lord became captive in the
hands of his enemy and was to be released. The vassals had to render these duties because the lord
guaranteed them security of life and property against external invasions and gave them justice.

8. Ceremony of Homage
The leading feature of feudalism prevailing in Europe was the ceremony of homage. This
ceremony was organized to cement the bond between the “lords” as “vassal”. After assembling in
the castle of the noble each man used to kneel down before the lord with uncovered head. Then
each one placed his folded hands on the hands of the lord. He then took the oath to be his “man” or
“vassal”. This ceremony was famous as “homage” in which the vassal took vow to remain loyal to
his lord.

9. Investiture:
After the vassals showed homage, then the lord raised him up and kissed them. He
recognized them as his “Subject” or “vassal”. Then the lord placed in the hands of the vassal a little
earth or some leaves or a sword as a token of gift. A legal document concerning “fief” (land given to
vassal), a staff and a flag were also handed over to the vassal. This sanction was termed as
investiture.

- Feudal Society
Feudal society operated on a system of fealty where a lord offers protection in return for
loyalty and taxes.
- Feudal Kings
Kings owned all the land in a kingdom and decided who to lease to. In order to get land
lords had to swear an oath of loyalty to the king.
- Feudal Lords
Operated on a system of upper and lower nobles where upper nobles reported to the king
and had a number of lower nobles who reported to them.
- Knights
Knights were used by lords to protect their lands and make sure the serfs/peasants stayed
productive when needed knights were gathered by higher lords.
- Serfs / Peasants
Serfs were tied to the land which they worked as farmers. Serfs made up most of European
society. Lords offered protection in return for them working the land.
- Manor System
Lords lived in manors (large houses) near the village. Peasants lived in the village where
shops, a church, and workshops were located. Often they had small garden in their backyards. The
fields were located near to the village.

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- Crop Rotation System
Fields were changed in three year cycles to allow for nutrients to be replenished in the soil.
Two years the field was used for planting crops. The third year, it was left fallow and animals
were allowed to graze on it.

- Monasteries / Abbeys
They are religious structures where monks (men) or nuns (women) resided. They are often
considered as centers of culture and economic activity.

- The Vikings
They were Nordic raiders from Scandinavia. They attacked using their famous longboats
that could be used on oceans and rivers. They mostly raided villages and monasteries. Later, they
colonized British Isles, Iceland, Greenland and North America.

- Impact of the Vikings

Monasteries and cities lived in constant fear of Viking attacks. They built high walls and
castles for protection. The Vikings converted to Christianity in 1100s and ended raids on Europe.