The Norman Feudal System (AQA GCSE History)

Summary

The feudal system was a development of the hierarchy of landownership that existed in Anglo-Saxon England. The system enabled William to maintain control of the land and extract money from the entire country. It also prevented powerful landowning rivals from emerging. The entire system was based on land ownership, which was given to others in exchange for money or services.

Feudalism also changed how different social classes interacted with each other. Ceorls became nearly extinct in this system. Tenants-in-chief and under-tenants made peasants entirely dependent on their local lord. Local lords also insisted upon more work from peasants. They raised the amount of resources a peasant had to grow to keep working on the land. This increased resentment between peasants and the upper classes. 

William replaced thegns with under-tenants. This class were vassals of the tenants-in-chief and lacked the powers that thegns held in the Anglo-Saxon system. This reinforced the dominance of the Normans and reduced the threat of rebellion from the class.

What is the Feudal System?

• The Feudal System did not exist in Normandy but was a development of the existing Anglo-Saxon social hierarchy based on landownership

• The system was more formalised under the Normans, with more land and power in the hands of the King

  • Around 200 barons and bishops replaced the six Anglo-Saxon earls as the tenants-in-chief

  • Increasing the number of tenants-in-chief made it very unlikely that one of them would become powerful enough to challenge the king

  • William also made the tenants-in-chief and the under-tenants swear an oath of loyalty to him

• In the Anglo-Saxon system, the king had expected to be able to raise armies from his tenants

  • Under the feudal system, a specific number of days of service in the army was guaranteed in return for land 

• Although slavery wasn’t abolished by the Normans, the number of slaves in England gradually declined to nothing in the 11th century 

  • Peasants worked the land for the under-tenants and tenants in chief 

The feudal hierarchy under William the Conquerer

• William was able to give some of his land in exchange for money and services from the tenants-in-chief

  • In turn, the tenants-in-chief could give land to under-tenants, or knights, in return for military service and money (taxes)

  • The under-tenants could then charge peasants and ceorls rent to live on and farm the land

  • The peasants would also have to provide free labour to work their lord’s farm 

Roles & responsibilities in the Norman feudal system

• To function effectively, every part of the feudal system had to fulfil its responsibilities and obligations

• The king was expected to be an effective military and political leader

  • He alone could make laws and raise taxes that applied to the whole nation

Responsibilities and Obligations of the Tenants-in-chief

Military

• Led their knights into battle and used these knights to stop any rebels in their area

• They provide military service for the king

Landholding

• Organised and distributed land taken from the Anglo-Saxons between the Normans

• Ensured that knights and under-tenants had enough land to grow crops

Legal

• Tenants-in-chief could have a large number of fiefs, called a barony

• They had to judge any tenants’ land disputes

Economic

• Passed on a share of their fiefs’ income to the king

• Kept a large amount of money for themselves

Political

• Served on the royal council to give the king advice on important issues

• Provided food and shelter for the king and the court when he travelled

Religious

• Some tenants-in-chief had important roles in the church as bishops and abbots

Responsibilities and Obligations of a Knight or Under-Tenant

Military

• The most skilled and feared military group

• The knights defended England against Viking invaders and fought wars with France

• Knights suppressed rebellions within England as well as attacks from Scotland and Wales

Social

• Sheltered in, and attacked from castles around England

• Residents of castles established stables and blacksmiths to care for the knights and their horses

  • This increased the types of jobs in Norman England

Political

• Knights replaced the Anglo-Saxon thegns as the social rank below tenants-in-chief

• Many knights became local lords

• Some tried cases in the manorial court

Responsibilities and Obligations of a Peasant

• Peasants gained land by providing manual labour to their local lord

  • This could involve ploughing the land or planting and harvesting crops

  • They could use the land to feed themselves and their families