The hierarchy was an important system of order and caste that provided the people of the High Middle Ages with protection and safety. It was crucial to this times because it established a stable social order with respect and duty for those in higher place.
So how does it work? At the top of the hierarchy would be the apex of the imaginary pyramid, or the people/things in the highest position. Those who were higher up had more power and authority, and those who were lower had less and often had to offer things to those higher to earn honor and safety.
What did the Medieval Hierarchy Look Like?
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To the left, we have a pyramid of the hierarchy of the High Middle Ages, when feudalism started and reached its peak. At the top of feudal society would be the most important people, and they were protected by those who were lower in exchange for other things.
However, in most society, there were more of those in lower class than higher. So although the monarchy might have more wealth than one person from the bottom of the pyramid, all of the lower class together could go and overthrow the king. So feudalism really was all about wealth.
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Monarchy in Feudal Times
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Monarchs, or kings and queens, in feudal times believed in the divine right of kings, the idea that God had given them the right to rule. In reality, few monarchs had enough wealth to keep their own armies and had to rely on their vassals, especially nobles, to provide enough knights and soldiers. Medieval monarchs were essentially feudal lords, but people gave them the most respect and they did not have the However, in some places, great lords grew very powerful and governed their fiefs like states; in these cases, monarchs were little more than symbolic rulers who had less real power.
Two of the most important monarchs in feudal times were William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) and Charlemagne(Charles the Great). William the Conqueror brought feudal institutions from Europe in Normandy(present-day France), and was the first to introduce the idea of feudalism. This age was the beginning of feudalism. He was known as "William of Normandy" at first, but after conquering England, he was known around the kingdoms as "William the Conqueror" for besting such a powerful kingdom.
Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was actually the leader of the Franks (the country France is derived from the Franks). This impressive leader built his empire with the help of Pope Leo III, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. For Charlemagne, the blessing of the church sent the message that God was on his side. People believed in Charlemagne because the church and Catholicism were central parts of society, and he was named the Holy Roman Emperor for his lending of armies to the pope.
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Lords and Ladies in Feudal Times
Nobles, or lords and ladies were members of the nobility, the highest-ranking class in medieval society. Although they had lots of power, lords did not rule the land and owned manors instead of living in the castle. Lords were essentially at the same level as the monarchs, but they had to listen to the monarch and had an overall respect for them. There was an unspoken agreement that lords were a tiny bit lower in social class than the king and/or queen.
It was the lord's duty to defend the land and the people (see Peasantry in Feudal Times) on it. The lord appointed officials to make sure that the villagers did what they were supposed to, such as farming the lord's land and paying rent in crops, meat, and other foods. Because manors were places of shelter and safety, the lord acted as a judge in the manor court to all the peasants and serfs (see Peasantry in Feudal Times) who were tied to the manor. The lord had the power to punish and fine those who broke laws. It was also the lord's duty to fight for the king, or, more commonly, supply a suitable fighting source.
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The noble women, or ladies, in medieval Europe essentially had the same jobs as the men, except for fighting, of course. It was considered unladylike. They ran their estates, sat as judges in manor courts, and sent their knights to serve in times of war. Ladies who didn't own land had just as many responsibilities. They had to care for their children, and often other ladies' children as well. These ladies were also made to oversee their household(s). Some manors of nobles had hundreds of people, including priests, hunters, and knights-in-training called pages and squires (see Knights and Vassals in Feudal Times) who assisted the king in order to be knighted. There were cooks, servants, artists, craftspeople, and grooms as well, and entertainment was provided by musicians and jesters who performed jokes and stunts to amuse the nobles.
Although nobles and monarchs had the most privileged lives in medieval times, they were not always easy or comfortable by modern standards. Lit only by candles and warmed only by open fires, manor homes and castles could be gloomy and cold. Because of the sundry people, diseases affected the wealthy as well as the poor. And warfare was a great and ever-present danger. Life as a medieval noble wasn't hard, but it definitely wasn't easy.
Knights and Vassals in Feudal Times
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Knights were the mounted soldiers of the medieval world, and because armor and horses cost a good deal, they had to have some wealth. Knights were usually the vassals of more powerful lords. Vassals were people who were subordinate positions to others. If a person owed something to someone who was of higher status, they would give their services and become a vassal.
The journey to becoming a knights took a long time, almost all of your life as it was atypical to live beyond the age of thirty-eight. A boy would begin as a page, or servant. At seven years old, he left to the castle of a lord, and often wealthy lords had several pages of their assist living in their manors. At the page state, the boy learned how to ride a horse and received religious instruction from the local priest. They spent as much of their time with the ladies of the castle and were expected to help the ladies in every way possible. In return, the ladies taught the page how to sing, dance, compose music, and play the harp, which were skills valued in knighthood. After about seven years as a page, as a boy was entering his adolescent years, he became a squire. During this part of training, he learned basic knight skills from the knight who was his lord, such as polishing armor and caring for his horse. Most importantly, squires trained to become warriors and learned to fight with a sword and a lance, a type of fifteen-foot spear. Squires went into real battles as well, and sometimes, a squire was knighted on the spot if he did particularly well in a battle. Finally, in their early 20s, if deserving of honor, a squire could become a knight. The main concept in a knighting was kneeling before his lord and saying his vows, and then the lord would touch the knight-to-be lightly on each shoulder with the flat side of the blade. Then, officially, the man would become a knight.
Knights lived by a strong code of behavior called chivalry. They were expected to hold fairness, loyalty, and justice to their lord and the Church, and to protect the helpless. They performed gallant acts, and paid respect to women. Jousts and tournaments were a major part of a knight's life as well. In a joust, two armed knights on horseback galloped at each other with lances to unseat their opponent. These were the medieval sporting events for exercise between to knights. To fight in the 11th century, armor was linked metal rings, called chain mail. By the 14th century, plate armor was discovered to offer better protection.
The medieval style of knighthood lasted until about the 17th century, when warfare changed with the growing use of gunpowder and cannons into the Colonial Times.
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Peasantry in Feudal Times
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Peasants made up most of the people in the Middle Ages. They were not a part of the feudal relationship but supported the entire feudal structure by working out the land for the levels above them.
The daily life of peasants revolved around work. Most peasants raised crops and livestock (farm animals). Peasant women worked in the fields when it was necessary and helped their husbands doing labor. Most peasants lived in small houses of either one or two rooms. A typical house was of woven strips of wood and covered with straw or mud. An entire family sometimes ate and slept in one room that also housed their farm animals. Peasants ate vegetables, pork, and dark bread of wheat or oatmeal. Almost no one ate beef or chicken. Herbs were wisely used to improve flavor or reduce saltiness. A serf was a peasant that was bound to a manor's land, and must help maintain that land when a lord is occupying it. In return, the serf got crops and shelter from the lord. These peasants were classified as "unfree"; however, life was hard for a free peasant in the Middle Ages because they had no lord to provide food and protection to them. They had to work hard to earn enough money to get what they needed.
What was the social structure of the feudal system?
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The social structure of the feudal system during the High Middle Ages can be visualized as a hierarchical pyramid, with different classes and roles that defined the relationships and responsibilities among the members of medieval society. Here’s a breakdown of the key levels in this structure:
Monarchs (Kings and Queens): At the top of the hierarchy, monarchs held the highest authority and were considered the supreme rulers of the land. They believed in the divine right of kings, which stated that their power was granted by God. Despite their status, many kings relied on their nobles for military support and governance.
Nobles (Lords and Ladies): Below the monarchs were the nobles, who were powerful landowners—often referred to as lords and ladies. They managed large estates called manors and provided protection and governance to the people living on their lands. Nobles were expected to defend their territories and support their monarch in times of war.
Knights and Vassals: Knights were the warrior class and were often vassals to the lords. They were granted land in exchange for military service and adhered to a code of chivalry, which emphasized traits such as loyalty, bravery, and honor. The journey to becoming a knight involved years of training, starting as a page and then becoming a squire before attaining knighthood.
Peasants (Serfs and Free Peasants): At the base of the pyramid were the peasants, who constituted the majority of the population. They worked the land and provided the agricultural output that sustained the feudal economy. Peasants were categorized into two groups—serfs, who were bound to the land and required to work for the lord in exchange for protection and livelihood, and free peasants, who were not tied to a specific lord but faced their own challenges in obtaining resources and security.
The relationships among these classes were defined by mutual obligations: monarchs provided stability and protection, nobles defended the land, knights offered military service, and peasants labored to sustain the society as a whole. This interconnectedness was crucial for maintaining the feudal system, ensuring that each level of society had roles that supported the hierarchy above them.
Turn it into a paragrpah
The social structure of the feudal system during the High Middle Ages can be visualized as a hierarchical pyramid comprising several distinct classes, each with specific roles and responsibilities. At the top were the monarchs—kings and queens—who held supreme authority and believed in the divine right of kings, asserting that their power was granted by God. Below them were the nobles, or lords and ladies, who managed large estates known as manors and provided protection and governance to the people living on their lands, while also supporting the monarch in times of war. The knightly class, composed of vassals to the nobles, served as mounted warriors and adhered to a code of chivalry, emphasizing loyalty and honor; they underwent years of training as pages and squires before becoming knights. At the base of the pyramid were the peasants, who made up the majority of the population, working the land to sustain the economy. Peasants were classified into serfs, who were bound to the land and provided labor in exchange for protection and basic necessities, and free peasants, who were not tied to a specific lord but faced their own hardships in securing livelihood and resources. This system of interdependence established a stable social order, where each class fulfilled its obligations to those above it, collectively supporting the feudal structure.
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