Bill the Conqueror Time period & Location: 1066 England William the Conqueror invaded England for the last time William was from Normandy Fought and won the Battle of Hastings This gave him the official title of King of England

How did William win @ Hastings? William was a great planner & innovator Used mounted cavalry The mounted armoured knight became the deadliest fighter in Western Europe… More on this later…

William brought more than a winning method The Feudal System was introduced to England Aka “Norman feudalism” This was a system that was prevalent in western Europe, allowed a King to govern large kingdoms Used local Lords or Vassals as a support system

Feudal System The Feudal system was a social & political system based on land loyalty and religious faith Centre of Feudal Life: Manor Self-sufficient community where most people lived as serfs or landowners Religion and the church played a major role in people’s lives New laws and systems of justice helped people live together in peace The Manor’s main purpose was to support the “lord of the manor”, a knight. The King defended his Lords from attack and settled disputes that arose In turn, the Lords governed the local people (serfs)

Feudal System II Feudal System was primarily a military arrangement William felt that armoured knights needed a large land base to support them Took away the lands from defeated English Earls and gave them to the Knights who had helped William @ Hastings English land owners and serfs first refused William and his changes (people were no longer “free” to live as they wished) Within 5 years, William “brutally” suppressed all opposition to his system, was in total control & established feudalism through England.

Feudal Contract Based around the “three Fs” Fief (land), Fealty (loyalty), & Faith (religion) Feudalism = land was the source of all wealth Land was given to nobles (knights) in exchange for their loyalty to the King Land (fiefs) was “parcelled” out in the form of estates to the nobles Contract (allegiance): Nobles had to serve in king’s army for a certain number of days per year (40) Nobles had to supply more knights in time of war Nobles had to serve in King’s court and give advice on political matters Give money on special occasions, i.e. when oldest son was knighted or daughter married King gave protection and would settle disputes between nobles

Feudal Contract II Vassals of the King – the knights/barons/nobles – became the “tenants-in-chief” of the estates Tenants = French word meaning “holder” Vassals of the nobles, became tenants, and the vassals of these tenants became sub-tenants As the lord of the manor a noble would have the right to profit from their land. Serfs and freeholders worked the land Serfs & Nobles were kept out of the realm of power; part of the land. Serfs “owned” the land, but rented the land, to use it… Vassal: a person granted the use of land, in return  for rendering homage, fealty, and usually military  service or its equivalent to a lord or other superior.