Land and Feudalism in england
Most people know that the feudal system controlled property ownership in England after the Norman conquest of 1066, but without a real understanding of what that really means. Feudalism was a social as well as an economic system. The basis of English Feudalism was every persons position in a certain society was determined through ownership of land. Prior to the conquest, two types of land ownership were recognized in England: the celtic and the saxon. With the celtic land, all land was held by the sword. There was no legal institutions to protect the ownership of any land just how wel a man could fight to keep it. The saxon's land ownership stayed with the family.
Economic tenures were didived into three categories: military, economic, and religious. Two ceremonies were performed: homage and fealty. Women could not give homage, but they could receive it. Everyone who held land had to pledge fealty. Then, as now, the desire toavoid paying taxes was a motivating factor. William the Conqueror and his successors, claimed ownership of all the land in England, and everyone else obtained there land either directly or indirectly from the king. Land could even be held without homage. The selling of noble wardships ans women in marriage could turn a quick profit. No matter what happened that land did not leave the family possession. Ecclesiastics could not give homage since they were already the men of god. People tried everything they could to get out of paying the taxes and if they were caught it would end in death. The king made agreements with his most important lords, they were given certain lands in exchange for services to the crown. Fealty was only a promise to be faithful and honest. The lords were usually tenants in chiefsnd the services they did was normally military related.
Common topics in this essay:
William Conqueror,
English Feudalism,
England Norman,
,
ownership land,
land held,
paying taxes,
exchange services,
land ownership,
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