Exchanges in the Feudal System

What was exchanged in the feudal system?

The feudal system was a system of exchange of land, loyalty and labour.

How was land exchanged in the feudal system?

In the feudal system, all of the land belonged to the king. This made his life simpler in a number of ways.

• ❖ Nobody could inherit land without making a relief payment to the king and swearing an oath of homage.
• ❖ The system of paying a relief encouraged loyalty to the king and also raised money for him.
• ❖ The king could reward favourites with low relief payments for their sons, and use high relief payments as a threat for rebellious ones.
• ❖ This system prevented any noble from gaining so much land that they could challenge the king.

How was homage exchanged in the feudal system?

The ceremony of homage was an important event in which the tenant-in-chief knelt before the king and said 'I become your man'. He then swore on the Bible to remain loyal to the king for the rest of his life.

How was labour exchanged in the feudal system?

Peasants promised to work for their lord in return for enough land to support themselves.

• ❖ Sometimes this meant working on the lord's land to plough, sow and gather crops. This was known as 'boon work'.
• ❖ Sometimes this meant giving a set amount of their produce to the lord each year, as a form of tax.
• ❖ Peasants in towns had to do labour service for any land they farmed outside the town.