Feudalism in France
Feudalism in France was a system of governance and land tenure that dominated the medieval period, roughly from the 9th to the 15th centuries. This system structured society into a hierarchy based on land ownership, military service, and protection, where land was held under the condition of service or labor.
Historical Context
Following the collapse of the Carolingian Empire, the need for protection from Viking invasions and internal strife led to the decentralization of power. Local lords and nobles began to fortify their regions, leading to the development of feudal relationships.
Key Features of Feudalism in France:
- Vassalage - Lords (seigneurs) granted fiefs (land) to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. This relationship was formalized through ceremonies like homage and fealty.
- Manorial System - The manor was the basic economic unit where peasants (serfs) worked the land in return for protection and the right to cultivate a small plot for their own use. The manor included the lord's demesne and the serfs' holdings.
- Feudal Hierarchy
- King - Theoretically at the top, but often weak in power compared to dukes or counts.
- Dukes, Counts, and Barons - High nobility who held significant land and power.
- Vassals/Knights - Lesser nobles or knights who swore loyalty to a higher lord.
- Peasants/Serfs - Tied to the land, providing agricultural labor and paying taxes in kind or labor.
- Economic Obligations - Serfs owed labor services, dues, and taxes to their lords. This included corvée (labor service), tithes, and various other feudal dues.
- Legal Framework - Customary law, particularly the Feudal Customs, dictated the rights and duties of each class within the feudal system.
Evolution and Decline
Over time, feudalism in France evolved:
- In the 11th and 12th centuries, with the growth of royal power, particularly under Philip Augustus, the French monarchy began to reassert control over feudal lords.
- The Hundred Years' War further weakened the feudal system by centralizing military forces under the king's banner, reducing the importance of vassals' private armies.
- The rise of a money economy in the late medieval period allowed for new forms of taxation and economic relationships, diminishing the manorial system.
- The Renaissance brought about changes in thought and governance, leading to the decline of feudalism as new ideas of governance, law, and rights emerged.
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See Also