Norman Feudal System

• How William reorganized English society


  Created the feudal system
• Medieval society was organized into a hierarchy with some people more powerful at the top and more people down below having less power
• William was in charge at the top of the society
• William created the feudal system specifically for England
• Levels of the feudal system

  • Tenants in chief or barons
  • Sub-tenants or knights
  • Peasants
• William created the feudal system because he needed help to control the country
• William promised rewards to those who supported him in his invasion, including those who fought with him in the Battle of Hastings
• William took all land into his ownership, called his domain, and granted land to loyal Norman nobles in return for loyalty and service
• Under the feudal system, everyone had certain privileges but owed obligations in return
• How the feudal system worked

  Privileges led to obligations
• Privileges given by William to his tenants in chief


  Made some of his most loyal supporters into barons or tenants in chief and gave them land to manage
• Obligations of the barons to William

  Swear loyalty to William and provide knights for the army
• How knights served the barons

  Served William on behalf of the barons for 40 days of the year
• Many knights were worried about leaving their estates under the management of Anglo-Saxons who might not be as loyal
• Knights served for 40 days as a compromise between giving military service and managing their estates effectively
• Concerns of the knights

  Leaving their estates under the management of Anglo-Saxons who might not be loyal
• 40 days was agreed as a compromise for military service to prevent estates from falling into mismanagement
• Privileges given to the peasants

  • Allowed to live on the knights' land and farm it
  • Offered protection in exchange for rent, night service, or land service
• Peasants' obligations

  • Farmed the land for the knights
  • Paid taxes and rents
  • Performed night service or land service
• Peasants farmed the land for the knights


  Paid taxes and rents to live there
• The peasants were the ones who were losing out from this system
• Feudal system

  Cyclical nature of privileges on one hand and obligations in return
• The feudal system is a system of control where a few Normans controlled millions of Anglo-Saxon peasants
• William reorganized English society to favor the Norman nobility and increase their power
• Saxons and landowners were deprived of their lands, all land belonged to the king known as his domain
• The king granted land to the nobility, tenants in chief held land in return for advice, law and order, and soldiers
• Sub-tenants held land in return for 40 days of military service and controlled the local people
• Peasants had to rent and work on their lord's land in return for protection of the law and the king
• The king was in charge of all, controlling millions of Anglo-Saxons through a rigid structure