-
Feudal System Definition:
-
A social structure that existed throughout much of Europe between 800 and 1400 and that revolved around a multi-level hierarchy between lords (who held land granted under tenure from the king), and their tenants (also called 'vassals').
Related Terms:
Federalism,
Freehold,
Vassal,
Dominion Utile,
Demesne
A caste-based land ownership structure that existed throughout much of Europe between 800 and 1400 and that revolved around a multi-level hierarchy between lords (who held land granted under tenure from the king), and their tenants (also called vassals).
The lords had no superior except the king, to whom they were vassals. Under the lords were counts, barons, dukes and the like, vassals to their lords - this Russian doll process called subinfeudation. This level held most of the land in England which they partitioned to knights or down further to commoners, mostly known as serfs or vassals, though the status of vassal also describes the position of the knight, for example, to his duke.
Tenants or, as they were then called, serfs or vassals would lease land from the lord in exchange for loyalty and goods or services, such as military assistance or money; see also Legal Definition of Heriot.
In exchange, the vassal would be protected from attack and have exclusive use of a designated parcel of land.
The feudal system introduced a complete set of legal terms which are mostly now archaic although many still are in use in England, such as the entire set related to peerage, and the reservation to the Crown of ultimate ownership in land, the title restricted to use only at the King or Queen's pleasure, albeit never now invoked except for legitimate reasons such as expropriation - hence, the terms freehold and fee simple as used on land title documents in some Commonwealth jurisdictions, instead of simply owner.
REFERENCES:
- Radin, Max, Radin Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed. (Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications Inc., 1970), page 128, re "Feudal System"
Categories & Topics: