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vassal, in feudal society, one invested with a fief in return for services to an overlord. Some vassals did not have fiefs and lived at their lord’s court as his household knights. Certain vassals who held their fiefs directly from the crown were tenants in chief and formed the most important feudal group, the barons.
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- Alienation
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- Fealty
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- Homage
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- Primogeniture
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- Lord
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- Appanage
Central to vassalage in the Middle Ages was the principle of loyalty. A vassal’s dedication to his lord was not just a contractual obligation; it was a mark of his character. To betray one’s lord or to be perceived as disloyal could result in public shaming, loss of lands, or even exile.
Aug 7, 2024 · In medieval feudal societies, “vassal” and “knight” describe different roles and relationships within the hierarchical structure of governance and military service. Although these roles often intersected, they represent distinct aspects of medieval feudal obligations and social status.
Distinctive architectural styles characterized the medieval period, encompassing Gothic, Renaissance, and French influences. Structures like castles and forts, constructed primarily for defence, stood as the predominant secular architecture of the time.
- Alure
- Arrow Loop
- Bailey
- Ballista
- Barbican
- Bartizan
- Batter
- Battlements
- Buttress
- Crenellations
The walkway along the higher and interior part of a wall which often gives access to the higher floors of towers within the wall. Typically protected by battlements.
The narrow window of a wall or tower through which arrows and crossbow bolts could be fired. Usually a vertical slit, sometimes with a short horizontal slit to improve sighting.
The courtyard of a castle containing the principal buildings, including sometimes a tower keep, which may be surrounded by its own fortified wall.
A large, fixed crossbow which fired large wooden bolts or iron-headed bolts. Used by both attackers and defenders.
A short stretch of fortification outside the castle, especially used to provide extra protection for gates.
A turret which overhangs the wall below. Common at the juncture of two walls, they provide extra defensive visibility.
The angled additional base to a wall or tower which increases the difficulty in climbing or dismantling the wall by attackers. See Talus.
The crenellated top row of stones on a wall or tower. The merlons (raised section) and crenets (gaps) alternate to provide both cover and a line of fire for defenders.
A stone support of a wall, needed when the wall carries a roof or vault, or to provide extra defensive stability against dismantling or bombardment by attackers.
The top row of stones on a wall or tower which alternate between merlons (raised sections) and crenets (gaps) to provide both cover and a line of fire for defenders.
- Mark Cartwright
The Medieval name “vassal” was believed to have been derived from the Latin word vassallus and the Roman word vassus, which meant servant. However, it was also said to have originated from the Celtic and Welsh term gwas which meant a young male feudal tenant.
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What does vassal mean in medieval feudal society?
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Where did the name vassal come from?
What is a vassal & a feudal tenant?
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How did the role of vassals contribute to the overall structure of feudalism in medieval Europe? Vassals played a key role in the feudal system by serving as intermediaries between lords and lower-ranking nobles or knights.
