NOV. 20:  FEUDALISM

 

"Feudal" from feodum, "fief"

(land held in return for military service)

BayeuxWmHarold.jpg (130175 bytes)

 

Reciprocal ties of obligation

Bayeuxfeast.jpg (148599 bytes)

(Gratuitous battle scene)

battle01.jpg (318681 bytes)

 

 

Are you confused yet?

 

FutileSystem.jpg (76353 bytes)

 

 

One kingdom divisible:  Frankish royal power as heritable property

Divisionmap.jpg (348782 bytes)

 

 

 

 

The fragmentation of power:  the "castellan revolution"

CastellanRevolution.jpg (377475 bytes)

 

King in name only:  10th century France

(the small area in green represents land directly controlled by the Capetian kings)

Capetianmap.jpg (245760 bytes)

 

Homage:

Harold takes an oath to William of Normandy (Bayeux Tapestry)

BayeuxHaroldOath.jpg (145877 bytes)

 

More gratuitous battle scenes:

BayeuxKnights.jpg (145653 bytes)

 

DavidGoliath.jpg (319211 bytes)