Feudalism and

Homage Ceremony

Feudal Society

• It was divided into three estatemens:

Clergy Nobility Third Estate, composed by:

Peasants Burghers Craftsmen...

Peasants

• They could not protect themselves

• They asked for the nobles for help

• In exchange they would have to work for the nobles

• Some of them were serfs

• Some of them were free

Nobles• Under Feudalism Nobles had complete

control over their lands.

• But they were vassals of the king and accepted the king supremacy with a ceremony called:

•Homage Ceremony It was based on a chain of

personal ties which linked the nobles to the king.

The nobles swore allegiance to the king

Feudal Relations

• The Vassal (that was a noble)

• Helped the king with an army

• And recieved a fief (foeuf) in exchange

• This vassal could have more vassals

Feudal Relations

LORD

VASSAL

economic aid

counsel

militaryprotection

legaldefence

sustenance

militaryaid

Nobles Hierarchy• King

• Duke

• Marquess

• Earl

• Viscount

• Baron

Homage Ceremony

Phases of Homage Ceremony

• Inmixtio Manum

• Oath of Fealty (pledge of allegiance)– The vassal swore obedience to the king

upon a holy object

• Investiture:– The king gave to the vassal a fief

(symbolized by a handful of soil or a bunch of flowers)

– The king touched the vassal's shoulders with a sword.

Inmixtio Manum

Oath of Fealty

• The Vassal swore to obey the Lord upon a holy object.

Investiture