Knights In Feudalism

Knights played a compelling role in the feudal system, and without them, the feudal system would not run as smoothly as it should. Knights required crucial training to fulfill many responsibilities. Feudalism was a system based on each level giving and receiving from other levels. Knights not only provided people with military aid, but they helped complete the feudal pyramid. Feudalism allowed each level to give and receive different things that contributed to their survival. The role of the knight was essential, and contributed to the proper function and overall success of the feudal system.

While playing an important role in the feudal system, knights used advanced weapons that greatly contributed to their success. Knights contributed to

a functioning feudal system, and followed many rules that allowed the king to be provided with different services. First, the serfs, who were the lowest level in feudalism, would pay tax to vassals and lords. The serfs would also farm the lord's land. In return, they would get food, protection and shelter. They would also get a fief (a strip of land usually passed down through the feudal pyramid), to live and grow food on. The knights then gave homage (special honor) and military service to the lords. Just like the serfs, the knight would receive food, protection and shelter. Lastly, the lords would give loyalty and military aid to the king, who in return would give fiefs. The lord would give their knights subdivided versions of that fief. The knights would break their fief among the peasants (Richardson). Without them, the serfs would have no one to work for, and the lord and king would be unprotected. In addition to playing a major role in the feudal system, knights also followed many rules that greatly benefited the king. The list of military rules for vassals and other knights was long. Vassals (knights) of the king are bound to appear in front of him when he summons them. The knight must serve the King for forty days and nights, at their own expense. The king may withdraw any of these services when he wishes, and when he needs them. If the king request the knight stay for more than forty days, the knight does not have to. If the king wishes to keep them at his expense for defense, then they are bound to stay (Nardo 32). The weapons that the knights used played a large part in the success and protection of the knight. Knights were expected to wear armor. They fought with long spears, (lances), when they were on horses. When they were not on horses, they were expected to fight with swords. It took practice and skill to fight well in armor (Shuter 12,13). The knights would learn how to properly use these weapons during training. Other commonly used weapons could be short coats that reached the knights knees or hips. These were used for protection against a sword and weapon. In addition, mail hoods protected their heads. Poor warriors only had a wooden shield. These could not be bent, but could split. The favorite weapon, the sword, was used often. This was the main weapon and by far the favorite. Lastly, they had a light spear called a lance. The wealthier knights would ride horses, but the poor knights did not (Gravett 19,20). Knights used various weapons that allowed them to demonstrate their importance in the feudal system.
The training of a knight contributed greatly to the knights success in battle.

There were many steps that took years of training to become a knight. The first step to becoming a knight was starting off as a page. A page could start training at seven years old. While training he would use and learn to work weapons, learn how to ride a horse, how to behave towards liege lords and ladies, and learn music and arts. The teachers were squires, and once the students got to a certain point in training, they would be appointed as a squire. As a page, you would learn the basics of knighthood. Once a man completed training as a page, he would become a squire. A squire, who was usually a teenager, had many duties. They taught pages, and were assigned to wait on the knights. They continued training, but were assigned to a specific knight and fought at his side. Once a squire proved their ability, there would be a special ceremony (Donn). This ceremony was very honorable, because this sent the squire onto a new level of their life, knighthood. Once a man became a knight, many new responsibilities were brought on. A knight would have more dues to pay than just military service. During times of peace, it was common for the knight to serve about forty days a year. When the knight was not on duty, they would usually live in the castle they guarded. During wartime, a knight usually had to serve sixty or more days and provide horses, arms, and supplies at their own expense (Nardo 32). One

wasn’t obligated to become a knight but if you were born into it, expenses such as armor and training were already provided. Anyone who proved themselves in battle could be knighted (Donn). Being born into knighthood would make the entire process of becoming a knight easier. It's clear, the success of a knight was dependent on quality training.
The feudal system is an efficient system that allows people to serve, and receive from each level. This system had many layers to it, including serfs, lords, vassals, and a king. The feudal system became a way to rank the social classes from the rich and powerful king at the top, to the wealthy nobles, religious men and commoners, then lastly the poor peasants and serfs (Smith Feudalism VS. Manorialism). A person's place was dependant on their wealth. The upper classes consisted of wealthier men and women, and the lower class people were not as wealthy. The upper class were nobles. This group includes the King and his vassals (which are lords and knights). They received most of the benefits of the work that serfs did. In return to the serfs, the nobles were expected to protect their serfs if their territory was invaded, and to resolve disputes between their serfs in a fair and just manner (Richardson). Feudalism created an organized environment that had order, and logic. The feudal system was dependent on wealth, "Feudalism is the system that started when people wanted to increase wealth to afford them protection. The richer the person, the better protection they got" (Pizzuto). The social classes were based on each level giving and getting from another level. If a social class wanted protection, then the amount of protection would depend on how high up their class was on the feudal pyramid. Serfs, were not highly regarded, but a vassal or lord was. Although the serfs were not in a high social class, they still received military protection. The lord would be given the priority over the serf. The whole idea of feudalism wasn't just based on social class, but it was dependent on each level giving and getting. The king would have the serfs, who were the lowest level in feudalism, pay tax to vassals and lords. The serfs would also farm the lord's land. In return, they would get food, protection and shelter. They would also get a fief, to live on and grow food on. The knights then gave homage and military service to the lords. In return they would get food, protection and shelter. Lastly, the lords would give loyalty and military aid to the king, who in return would give fiefs. The king would give fiefs to the lords. The lords would then give their knights subdivided versions of that fief. The knights would break their fief among the peasants (Richardson). Using each level, everyone can benefit from everyone else.
The feudal system was simply based on each level giving and getting from other levels. The first, and lowest class of the feudal system, were serfs. A serf is someone who is bound to the land that he or she works on. They have little to no control over their own lives. They are very similar to slaves; they cannot be sold, but they are also not allowed to leave their land. They provide service to the nobles. Serfs work the land, serve in the lord's house, and pay taxes to their lord (Richardson). "The work of the peasant was long and hard. Three days a week he worked for the lord" (King 34). Because peasants owned no land, they built their homes near the castle of a lord and raised crops and animals. This land was set aside for them by the lord which meant they were under the lord's control. The serfs had to work three days a week, under harsh conditions. The land they worked on was barely enough to supply for their families (King 32). Serfs had the worst lives of anyone in the feudal system, and had the hardest labor. Next, the lord and vassal (who was usually a knight), were in the level above the serfs, but below the king. The lord, would receive land (or a fief) from the king. This land was known as a fief. The fief that the vassals received from the lords usually included houses, barns, tools, and domestic animals. This fief also included serfs who lived on the land. The vassal owned a portion of his income from the fief to the overlord (King 28). The fief is where the serfs would complete their labor. In return for military services, the vassal would give military protection to the lord. "In return for these military services, the feudal lord owed certain things to the vassal. Primarily, the lord gave wealth and support to the vassal (lord) (Smith Military Elite). As you can see, the relationship between the lord and vassal is strictly based on the feudal system. The lord gives to the vassal, and in return the vassal gets protection. A knight pledged loyalty to their liege lord, promised to be brave in battle, to protect the church, protect those weaker then themselves, and be respectful to noblewomen (Donn). Lastly, the highest level of the feudal system is the king. A king was supported by his noble lords. His job was to command authority over the soldiers, farmers, tradesmen, and serfs, who all lived in his kingdom. The king and the other overlords, who sat at the top of the feudal pyramid, would create a well-fortified stone castle to protect their holdings, house themselves, and their most important followers (Nardo 16). The king did not have any hard labor, and he had most of the benefits from the serfs work. The king would receive a fealty from the vassal. A king or other feudal overlord who had received the fealty of a vassal was expected to pay his end of the deal. This was usually covered with a fief, which was an estate, or manor. This usually included a house, or perhaps a small castle. Plus, resident peasants to work the fields. Although the new owner did not own the peasants, he did own the land where their houses were, so they were beholden to him) (Nardo 19). The serfs, lords and vassals, and king all played a major role in creating a functioning feudal system.
The king of a feudal system was the leader, and overlord of all people.

The key to the feudal system was land, and luckily for the king, he owned almost all of it. Land was the currency of the Middle Ages, "Those who owned land [also] owned the possibility of building up military and political power, for on the land men could grow food, and men could be settled to serve and fight for their overlords. During these [medieval] centuries, free men... commended themselves in great numbers of their own free will to the power, service and protection of a strong lord [who owned vast amounts of land]" (Nardo 14,15). If you had land, you were worth a lot more to the people. Land meant food, peasants, and power. People with power were treated with respect because they had control over the people below them. Ownership and exploitation of land was the driving force behind feudalism (Nardo 14,15). The king controlled the feudal system, and the land. The control of this land, enabled the king to subdivide the land between the social classes. Kings gave land to the classes below him, which resulted in a domino effect. Once the king would receive the fealty of a vassal, the king was expected to pay. In most cases, the king would return the vassal with a fief, which was an estate or manor. The fief would include, a house, or a small castle. The fief would also come with peasants. Although the vassal did not own the peasants, he owned the land on which their houses were built, so they answered

and served him (Nardo 14,15). The size of the fief that the king gave out varied. Some were only a few acres, while others covered thousands of acres and fertile farmland. The vassal, king or overlord obviously got the largest and most productive pieces of land. Not all feudal fiefs consisted of just land. If the king or overlord thought this was the best idea, then they would give his vassal money and call it a fief. Sometimes, the vassal was rewarded by becoming the mayor of a town. He could also become steward of a large estate (or the steward of the king's personal land, this was called a demesne). The overlord and vassal performed a ceremony for the granting of a fief. This ceremony was called investiture (Nardo 20). Although a king received many services, he would also have to give back, which is the basis of feudalism.