The Feudal System��The king owned all and the earls and barons were his vassals. They were given protection for a pledge of fealty (paying homage��submission, loyalty and service), and were bound to 40 days a year for battle duty. They also provided soldiers for the king. Since the king owned the land, the great nobles (dukes and earls) were given vast estates, then the lesser nobles (the barons), then the minor lords, and then the tenants who had a few acres.
The baron's property was called 'demesne' land or a fief. In return for the land he was expected to support the king with either military service or money. The baron's manor house was placed far away from the village and the peasant's cottages. There was at least one knight on the fief, who led armed villeins during battles with other barons.
The Baron's House:
The manor and demesne land: Dovecot (pigeon house), orchard, pond, falconry (the hawk house��the mew) and a chapel. Orchards had apple, cherry, pear, plum and quince trees. Wheat and other crops were grown, all tended to by the peasants. Walls and towers surrounded demesne land. The baron had more and better furniture, possessions and kitchenware than the peasants. Had a truckle bed (a low bed on rollers). There were barns for livestock. Lady of the manor and priest gave alms. As far as the village was concerned there was the peasant's church, the priest's house, a bakery, brewery and a wine press. There was a mill by the river, a smithy and an alehouse. Three great fields a hay meadow and the forests surrounded the fief.
The men who helped manage the estate:
Steward: a knight, who managed the estates, kept the accounts and presided over the Manor Court. Collected rent. He was on the road often. His wife was one of the dairymaids.
Bailiff: enforced the law and punished the peasants. His wife would also be one of the dairymaids.
Hayward: the village constable. Guards the hay meadows, declares boon-work (the work in the baron's fields), wakes villagers, measures the sheaves, impounds stray beasts, collects peasant's fines.
Reeve: a peasant chosen by the other villeins as their representative. He was the chief officer of the town or village foreman. Directed the common husbandry, reports to bailiff of misdeeds. Lived better than the rest of the peasants.
Also helping the baron was the baroness. While medieval women did not have the power that the men had, the baroness would be in charge of running the estate when the baron was away.
Medieval Towns: Anywhere there was a large population there were homes, shops and inns, merchants and tradesmen. Walls to defend the population from attack surrounded these areas. Space was limited and the streets were often filthy. To make the most of the available space, the upper floors of the buildings extended over the streets. Since there was always a threat of fire, the town crier put out the streetlights (candles) when the town was asleep.
Starting in the 13th century landholders below the status of the barons, and the inhabitants of the towns were able to increase in wealth and importance. They sometimes sent representatives to Parliament. The knights of the shire represented the landholders and the burgesses represented the townspeople.
This background is from Finla.com:
