Feudalism

1. Feudalism Ch.9 section 2

2. The Invaders • Carolingian Empire began to fall apart soon after Charlemagne’s death (814) • Divided into three major sections: • The west Frankish lands • The eastern Frankish lands • The middle Kingdoms • Local nobles gained power • Invasions added to the falling

3. Invaders cont. • Magyars • People of western Asia • At the end of the 9th century moved into central Europe (Hungary) and invaded western Europe • Vikings • Great love of adventure, search for spoils of war, and new avenues for trade may have led to attacks in other areas of Europe • Warriors, superb shipbuilders, and sailors • Enabled attack places far inland • Mid-9th century building European settlements

4. invaders • In 911, west Frankish king gave a group of Vikings land forming a section of France that became Normandy • Deliberatly planning to convert to Christianity which made the Vikings part of European civilization

5. The Development of Feudalism • Attacks and invaders caused people to turn to nobles to protect them • Usually a powerful lord that could offer protection in return for services • Led to feudalism– a political and social system • Vassalage- warriors fought for their lords and the lords to care of the warriors needs • Vassal- a man who served a lord in a military capacity • Knights- heavily armored calvery • Great social prestige and back bone of the aristocracy

6. The Development of Feudalism • Powerful nobles took control of large areas of land • To get men to fight for them they would grant each vassal a piece of land to support him and his family • Since there was little trade at this time and wealth was based primarily on land, this was an important gift

7. The Feudal contract • The relationship between lord and vassal was made official by a public ceremony • To become a vassal, a man performed an act of homage • “The man should put his hands together as a sign of humility, and place them between the two hands of his lord as a token that he vows everything to him and promises faith to him; and the lord should receive him and promise to keep faith with him. Then the man should say: ‘Sir, I enter your homage and faith and become your man by mouth and hands [that is, by taking the oath and placing his hands between those of the lord], and I swear and promise to keep faith and loyalty to your against all others’

8. The Feudal Contract cont. • Loyalty to one’s lord was the chief virtue • Fief- the granting of land to a vassal • Vassals that held fiefs came to hold political authority • The feudal system became increasingly complicated • The lord-vassal relationship bound together greater and lesser landowners. • Honorable relationship between free men and implied no sense of servitude

9. Feudalism cont. • Came to be characterized by unwritten rules– feudal contract • Determined the relationship between a lord and his vassal • Major obligation was to perform military service usually 40 days a year • When summoned would have to appear to give advice to the lord • Also responsible to make financial payments for various occasions

10. Feudal contract cont. • The lord also had responsibilities towards the vassal • Granted land • Required to protect his vassal • Either defending him militarily or by taking his side in a court of law

12. The Nobility of the Middle Ages • Dominated by men whose chief concern was warfare • Nobles would include: kings, dukes, counts, barons, and even bishops and archbishops who had large amounts of land and political power • Formed an aristocracy that consisted of people who held political, economic, and social power • Social divisions based on extremes of wealth and land holdings

13. The nobility of the middle ages cont. • Tournaments– contest where knights could show their fighting skills • Began to appear in the 12th century • Late in the century dominated by the joust • Individual combat between two knights • Used to train for war • Chivalry– an ideal of civilized behavior among nobilities • Code of ethics knights were supposed to uphold • In addition to their oath to defend the Church and defenseless people nights were to treat captives as honored guest • Knights should only fight for glory and not for material rewards

14. Aristocratic Women • Could legally hold property, but most remained under control of men • Lady of the castle had to manage the estate when lord was away at war or court • Large amounts of officials and servants • Oversaw financial accounts and food supply and maintained other supplies for smooth operation

15. Aristocratic Women cont. • Expected to be subservient to husband • Many were strong women who advised and even dominated the husband • Eleanor of Aquitaine • Remarkable personality • Heiress to the duchy of Aquitaine in southwest France • Married at the age of 15 to King Louis VII of France • Not a happy marriage and was annulled • Eight weeks later married again to Duke Henry of Normandy, who became King Henry II of England • Stormy relationship • Spent much time in Aquitaine • Eight children • Richard and John became kings of England