Vassals

Vassals were individuals in the feudal system during the Middle Ages who pledged loyalty and service to a lord or noble in exchange for land and protection. In this arrangement, vassals received a fief (a piece of land) and were expected to provide military support, manage the land, and ensure its productivity. This relationship was mutual; while lords granted land to vassals, they also provided security and governance. The vassal's obligation was both a personal commitment to the lord and a structured part of the feudal hierarchy that defined medieval society.