The King
At the top of the feudal system was the king.
In Norman England, this was William.
The King’s Powers
William:
- Owned all land in England
- Controlled the government
- Raised armies
- Collected taxes
- Made laws
Everyone in the kingdom owed loyalty to the king.
The Barons
Below the king were powerful nobles called barons.
William gave large areas of land to these Norman lords.
These lands were called fiefs.
What Did Barons Owe the King?
In return for land, barons had to:
- Provide knights for the king’s army
- Remain loyal
- Help keep order
- Defend their lands
Barons became extremely powerful.
However, William made sure no single baron became too strong.
He often spread a baron’s land across different parts of England.
This made rebellion more difficult.
The Knights
Below the barons were knights.
Knights were trained soldiers who fought on horseback.
What Did Knights Receive?
Barons gave knights smaller pieces of land.
In return, knights promised military service.
Norman Knights
Norman knights were heavily armed cavalry soldiers.
They used:
- Swords
- Spears
- Shields
- Chainmail armour
Knights played a major role in maintaining Norman control.
Peasants and Serfs
At the bottom of the feudal system were peasants.
Most people in England were peasants.
Many were serfs.
What Was a Serf?
A serf was a peasant tied to the land.
Serfs could not easily leave without permission.
Peasant Duties
Peasants had to:
- Farm the land
- Grow food
- Pay rents or taxes
- Work for the lord
In return, they received:
- Protection
- A place to live
- Land to farm
Life for peasants was hard.