Key learning points

1. The strict conditions for holding land from the king became known as the feudal system.
2. The feudal system made landholding less secure than it had been under Anglo-Saxon kings.
3. A key relationship in the feudal system was between a vassal and their overlord.
4. Holding land came with obligations such as paying homage, providing knight service or labour service.
5. The feudal system increased William’s power and control over England.

Keywords

• Feudal - feudal refers to a hierarchical social system where people receive land to live and work on from those higher than them, and in return have to work and fight for them

• Homage - paying homage was to publicly submit and swear an oath of fealty (loyalty) to someone above you in the feudal system

• Overlord - an overlord in the feudal system was someone who granted land in return for service

• Vassal - a vassal in the feudal system was someone who provided a service (e.g. labour) to an overlord in return for land

• Fief - a fief was a parcel of land given by an overlord to a vassal in return for their service to their overlord

Common misconception