Feudalism Society

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Feudalism is a political system based on land ownership that emerged in the early Middle Ages, following the decline of the Roman Empire.
Its foundation was the fiefdom (feudum), a certain area (territory, land) that an owner would grant to others. The ruler – either secular or ecclesiastical – was the feudal liege (suzerain) and those afforded his fiefdoms were his liege subjects (or vassals).
The handover itself came with pomp and ceremony, during which the vassal promised allegiance and military aid (or other services) to his feudal lord. The contract could only be annulled by the death of one of the parties or by a severe breach of the agreement.
Not only could the liege have several vassals, a vassal could also serve several liege lords. In the event of war, the vassal had to choose one side according to the feudal contract.
Feudalism also determined the conditions of the poorest class — the serfs, who worked on the leased land, paid taxes from it, and supported their master, his soldiers and officials, or a monastery. It was called a feudal rent – a source of wealth, mainly for the nobility. Portions of the fiefs were subleased so the king’s vassal in turn became the liege lord of his own vassals.

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