Middle Ages Research Article from History Firsthand

This Study Guide consists of approximately 199 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Middle Ages.
Encyclopedia Article

Middle Ages Research Article from History Firsthand

This Study Guide consists of approximately 199 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Middle Ages.
This section contains 269 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Middle Ages Encyclopedia Article

Feudalism was complicated by a practice called subinfeudation. As already noted, a lord who had large landholdings would create vassals by parceling off fiefs in return for military service. But it was also considered lawful for the vassal who received a fief to pass on a part of that fief, in turn, to a lesser knight, also in return for military service. The practice of subinfeudation (subdividing a fief) often gave rise to divided loyalties. Since a knight could accept land from different lords, that knight would become the vassal of both lords. If the lords from whom he received both parcels were ever at war with each other, the vassal would have to declare one of them his "liege" lord and fight only on his liege lord's behalf.

The king remained an important part of feudal society. Although his kingdom was now fragmented and governed by an...

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This section contains 269 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Middle Ages Encyclopedia Article
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Middle Ages from Greenhaven. ©2001-2006 by Greenhaven Press, Inc., an imprint of The Gale Group. All rights reserved.