feudal contract
Lord-serf binding agreement
A feudal contract was the reciprocal agreement between lord and vassal in medieval Europe.
The vassal pledged loyalty, military service, and counsel; the lord granted land (a fief) and protection in return.
This exchange of obligations formed the basis of feudal society: The knight held his manor under feudal contract with the duke.
The term now appears mainly in historical writing.
- liege lordFeudal superior receiving homage
- lordNobleman or ruler
- Middle AgesEurope's feudal millennium
- tenureProtected employment status
- oath-takingFormal vow ceremony
hierarchy · mutual obligation · charter · reciprocity · usufruct · vassal · sworn oath · allegiance · covenant · fealty · commendation · fief · land grant · tribute · knight's fee · obligation · military service · Norman Conquest
- feudalismfief, vassal, fealty, homage, lord
- diplomacyembassy, ambassador, ambassadors, treaty, treaties
feudal contractrental agreement
Contract for temporary occupancy
commercial contract · employment contract · land sale · mortgage agreement · licensing agreement
feudal contractwage labor
Work exchanged for payment
meritocracy · egalitarian society · republican government · social contract · civil society