Understanding Feudalism: Invasions, Society, and the Clergy
The Second Wave of Invasions
The disintegration of the Carolingian Empire weakened political power and defense capabilities, leading to a second wave of invasions. Three new groups of invaders overran Europe:
- The Vikings
- The Magyars
- The Saracens
The cruelty of these invaders created a climate of violence and insecurity throughout Europe.
Many people interpreted these calamities as punishment and believed they heralded the end of the world, expected in the year 1000.
Feudalism: A Social Structure
Feudalism is a social structure characterized by:
- Nobles gaining mastery of their lands. The king became just another noble.
- Nobles accepting the king’s power through a pact called vassalage. Through the investiture, the king granted a piece of land (called a fief) to his vassal.
- Nobles also had subjects who:
- Swore allegiance
- Delivered a fief
This system led to frequent wars between:
- King and nobles
- Nobles and the King
- Nobles against each other
Stratified Society: The Three Estates
Feudal society was divided into three groups called estates:
1. Nobility or Aristocracy
Their mission was to defend the rest of the population. They were organized hierarchically:
- Duke
- Count
- Baron
2. Clergy
The clergy was a powerful institution in Western Europe, organized hierarchically.
Pope:
- Head of the Church
- Governed the Papal States
- Maintained his own Swiss Army
- Could threaten individuals with excommunication
The clergy was divided into two branches:
- Secular clergy: These were the bishops (in charge of dioceses) and priests (in charge of parishes).
- Regular clergy: They followed religious orders and were ruled by an Abbot. Within the regular clergy were:
- Monks
- Nuns
- Friars
Each religious order had its own rules, such as enclosure, mendicancy, and absolute obedience.
3. Peasants
They were mostly farmers, although there were also artisans and merchants. They were obliged to pay tithes (10% of their crop) to the noble and the church.
There were two types of farmers:
- Serfs: The majority, they were subject to the feudal lord, who in return offered them shelter and food.
- Freemen: They could leave the manor and decide on their personal actions, including how much they worked for the feudal lord.
Peasants sometimes revolted against their lords, seeking to improve their situation.
The Role of the Clergy
The clergy was a significant institution in Western Europe, hierarchically organized under the Pope.
The Pope was the head of the Church, governed the Papal States, and had his own army (the Swiss Guard).
He could threaten individuals with excommunication, a serious penalty involving expulsion from the Church.
(In the Middle Ages, an excommunicated man lost his vassals.)
The clergy was divided into two branches:
- Secular clergy: These were the bishops (in charge of dioceses) and priests (in charge of parishes).
- Regular clergy: They followed religious orders and were governed by the Abbot. Within the regular clergy were:
- Monks
- Nuns
- Friars
Each religious order had its own rules, such as enclosure, mendicancy, and absolute obedience.
Peasant Obligations and Resistance
Peasants were obliged to pay tithes.
Tithe: 10% of their crop, paid to the church and the noble.
There were two types of farmers:
- Serfs: The majority, they were subject to the feudal lord, who in return offered them shelter and food.
- Freemen: They could leave the manor and decide on their personal actions, including how much they worked for the feudal lord.
Peasants sometimes revolted against their lords, seeking to improve their situation.