The feudal system

During the Middle Ages, there was a system called the feudal system. A man with little land could give his land to a strong noble. In return, the noble had to protect him. The noble was the lord, and the other man was the vassal. A lord could have many vassals. A vassal was still allowed to live on the land he had given to the noble. The vassal would have to make certain promises to the lord.

A king could have vassals also. A king could give nobles a large chunk of his land, called a fief. In return, the noble had to supply the king with a certain amount of soldiers, and pay him money on certain days.

The noble could have vassals too. Just like the king, a noble could split his land into fiefs and give each fief to a less important noble. This noble had to supply soldiers to the lord, and pay him money on certain days. This noble could also split his land into fiefs. In this way, nobles could be a vassal and a lord at the same time.

A lord gave away a fief through a solemn ceremony. The vassal would approach the lord and kneel down before him. He would put his hands into the lord’s hands and promise loyalty to him. Then the lord would give the vassal the “kiss of peace” and promised to protect him in return for his faithful service. Then he would give the vassal a flag, a staff, or some other token.