Clovis 486 CE King of the Franks Unites Gaul

Charles Martel 732 CE Battle of Tours Defeats Muslim army in Spain

Charlemagne (Charles the Great) Charles Martel’s grandson Unifies much of Europe Named Emperor of the Romans Expanded the Christian faith CE

What type of a government might be able to deal with these problems?

FEUDALISM

Introduction The Feudal System was introduced to England following the invasion and conquest by William I (The Conqueror). –The system had been used in France by the Normans from the time they first settled there in about 900AD. Feudalism was a simple, but effective system –All land was owned by the King –One quarter was kept by the King as his personal property –Some was given to the church –The rest was leased out under strict controls.

Protection! Constant invasions kept kings and emperors to weak to control their territories –Vikings, Magyars, Muslims The people in these territories needed protection from the invaders as well Created a need for this new political system called Feudalism –Based on exchanging land for loyalty –Legal relationship based around a feudal contract

Kings The King was in complete control under the Feudal System. –He owned all the land in the country and decided who he would lease land to He therefore only allowed those men he could trust to lease land from him –However, before they were given any land they had to swear an oath to remain faithful to the King at all times Would committee knights to fight in times of danger The men who leased land from the King were known as nobles –They were wealthy, powerful and had complete control of the land they leased from the King –Often they would lease their land to a lesser noble

Terms When land is divided there becomes a complex system of Lords and Vassals –Lord – Some one who grants a piece of land to a lesser lord –Vassal – lesser lords who receive land from a higher lord Vassals are pledging their loyalty to their lord The grant of land is known as a fief –Can vary drastically in size –Also comes with any towns, buildings or peasants on that land Feudal contract is the document that establishes this division of land and loyalty

Nobles Barons leased land from the King which was also known as the manor They were known as the Lord of the Manor and were in complete control of this land –They established their own system of justice –minted their own money –Set their own taxes In return for the land they had been given by the King, the Barons had to: –Serve on the royal council –Pay rent –Provide the King with Knights for military service when he demanded –Provide lodging and food for the King and his court when they traveled around the country The Barons kept as much of their land as they wished for their own use, then divided the rest among their Knights –Barons were very rich.

Knights Knights were given land by a Baron in return for military service when demanded by the King –They also had to protect the Baron and his family as well as the Manor, from attack Although not as rich as the Barons, Knights were quite wealthy –Trained from an early age to become a knight Used swords, axes and lances to fight Wore armor and carried shields for protection -destroy the castle

Serfs Serfs worked the land given to vassals –They had to provide free labor, food and service whenever it was demanded –Serfs had no rights They were bound to the land and had to ask permission to leave the Manor –Could not be bought and sold like slaves but still not free Serfs were very poor