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