Transcript Feudalism: A System of Allegiance

Feudalism: A
System of
Allegiance
Feudalism: A System of
Allegiance
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After Charlemagne’s death in 814, rule in
Europe fell into the hands of numerous nobles.
Powerful and independent aristocrats ruled
local areas by a system called feudalism.
Feudalism was an economic, social, and
military system in which vassals, or tenants,
pledged their loyalty to a lord, exchanging
work on his land or service in his military in
return for his protection.
Feudalism
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Usually the lord himself
was vassal to a more
powerful overlord, who in
turn served as a vassal to
a prince or king.
Feudalism and the
Church were the two
great pillars of the
medieval society.
Epic
Deeds of
Heroes
and
Heroines
Epic Deeds of Heroes and
Heroines
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Warfare between feudal lords was
commonplace, and medieval
literature simultaneously reflected
both ideals of valor and the desire
for order and peace.
During the Middle Ages a rich
tradition of stories was passed on by
minstrels, who sang or chanted the
fabulous deeds of earlier heroes.
Many of these stories became epics
that are still read today.
The Code of Chivalry
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Sir Galahad sees the
Holy Grail
Chivalry was an attempt at
refining the rough realities of
feudalism.
Chivalry, taken from the
French word for knight
(chevalier), was basically a
military code of behavior.
A knight was supposed to be
fair to his opponents, loyal to
his lord, and honorable in all
things.
The Code of Chivalry
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He was supposed to
show Christian
humility to his
peers, kindness to
those beneath him,
and generosity to
all.
Many knights could
not live up to the
code.
The Romance
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Romances were the literary expression of
chivalric ideals. Romances were long poems
about knightly adventures that were recited
by traveling poets.
The Arthurian romances were among the
most popular of the medieval romances.
These stories of Arthur, a legendary Celtic
king and his knights of the Round Table,
spread first throughout England and Wales
and then migrated to the Continent.
The Romance Continued
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Chretien de Troyes,
who wrote in French
in the late twelfth
century, was one of
the most famous of
the medieval romance
poets. His stories,
especially those of
Perceval and
Lancelot, influenced
later versions of the
Arthurian legend.
Courtly Love
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A new element of courtly love served to
distinguish the romances from the earlier
epics. The knight’s deeds were not
performed in the service of king or
country, but on behalf of a beautiful, fair,
and noble lady who was above him in
status and usually married--and therefore
unattainable.
The tradition of courtly love began in the
eleventh century by troubadours (poetmusicians) who sang lyrics based on the
theme of courtly love.