A haycart, from the Golf Book (Book of Hours, Use of Rome), workshop of Simon Bening (1483-1561) Netherlands (Bruges), c. 1540, Additional MS 24098, f. 25r
The King was in complete control under the feudal system (at least nominally). He owned all the land in the country & decided to whom he would lease land. He therefore typically allowed tenants he could trust to lease land from him. However, before they were given any land they had to swear an oath of fealty to the King at all times. The men who leased land from the King were known as Barons, they were wealthy, powerful & had complete control of the land they leased from the King.
Barons: Executors of the Feudal System
Barons leased land from the King that was known as a manor. They were known as the Lord of the Manor & were in complete control of this land. They established their own system of justice, minted their own money & set their own taxes. In return for the land they had been given by the King, the Barons had to serve on the royal council, pay rent & provide the King with Knights for military service when he demanded it. They also had to provide lodging & food for the King & his court when they traveled around his realm. The Barons kept as much of their land as they wished for their own use, then divided the rest among their Knights. Barons, who had their own coats of arms, became exceedingly wealthy, were very rich.
Knights
Knights were given land by a Baron in return for military service when demanded by the King. They also had to protect the Baron & his family, as well as the Manor, from attack. The Knights kept as much of the land as they wished for their own personal use & distributed the rest to villeins (serfs). Although not as rich as the Barons, Knights were quite wealthy.
Serfs, Peasants, Villeins
Villeins, sometimes known as serfs, were given land by Knights. They had to provide the Knight with free labour, food & service whenever it was demanded. Villeins had no rights. They were not allowed to leave the Manor & had to ask their Lord’s permission before they could marry. Villeins were poor.
