the feudal hierarchy

• what were the tenants in chief?

  williams key allies who recieved huge grants of land direct from the king in return for their military service
• what was a barony?

  land held by a baron (a major landowner)
• what was homage?

  a public display of loyalty to a lord
• what was a vassal?

  someone who held land from someone else in the feudal system
• what is a fief/feud?

  land held by a vassal in return for service to a lord
• what was knight service?

  the duty to provide a knight or knights for the king for up to 40 days a year
• what did knight service also involve?

  • guarding the kings castles
  • had to be equipped and given money to live on during knight service
• what was the military factor of tenants in chief?

  fought for the king
• what was the social factor of tenants in chief?

  law courts to deal with barony land disputes
• what was the economic factor of tenants in chief?

  paid the king tax from their large revenues