Are lords higher than vassals?

Vassals held an overall status superior to that of peasants and were considered equal to lords in social status. They took leadership positions in their locality and also served as advisers for lords in feudal courts. The price of a vassal’s power was allegiance to the lord, or fealty.

What are the differences between lords knights and vassals in the feudal system?

Knights were usually vassals of more powerful lords. A vassal was the second-in-command to their feudal lord. They had to live their life following a stringent code of behavior called a chivalry. As mentioned above, vassals were granted land from their lords to look over and control.

What were lords knights and vassals?

Within a fiefs, a vassal acted as a local lord and could give portions of it to vassals of his own. Someone might be the vassal of one person, but the lord of another. Knights were warriors who fought on horseback. In return for land, they pledged themselves as vassals to the king.

What roles were played by lords and vassals?

Under the feudal contract, the lord had the duty to provide the fief for his vassal, to protect him, and to do him justice in his court. In return, the lord had the right to demand the services attached to the fief (military, judicial, administrative) and a right to various “incomes” known as feudal incidents.

What was the relationship between the Lord and his vassals?

The vassals swore lifelong allegiance to their loan lords. This usually meant that they had to perform military service on horseback. So they were knights in the service of their lord. To keep an eye on the lords and vassals, Charlemagne had divided his empire into different parts.

Who are the vassals of the king of France?

The dukes of Normandy, who were vassals to the king of France, were for some centuries much stronger than the king. A person might receive fiefs from more than one lord, and so owe homage and fealty to both. What was he to do if one of his lords quarreled with the other and went to war?

Who was stronger a vassal or a king?

A tenant-in-chief might hold only a very small fief directly from the king and not be a very important person at all, while a vassal’s vassal’s vassal might be rich and powerful. The dukes of Normandy, who were vassals to the king of France, were for some centuries much stronger than the king.

What was the difference between a vassal and a tenant in chief?

But this was only theory. Practice was more complicated still. A tenant-in-chief might hold only a very small fief directly from the king and not be a very important person at all, while a vassal’s vassal’s vassal might be rich and powerful.