Here are the names and designations of those who were assembled at
the council meeting ..."
- - - Chapter 3 - - -
- The Times: 900-1066 -
There were many large landholders such as the King, earls, and
bishops. Earls were noblemen by birth, and often relatives of the
King. They were his army commanders and the highest civil
officials, each responsible for a shire. A breach of the public
peace of an earl would occasion a fine. Lower in social status
were freemen: sokemen, and then, in decreasing order, villani
[villeins], bordarii, and cottarii. The servi were the slaves.
Probably all who were not slaves were freemen.
Kings typically granted land in exchange for services of military
duties, maintaining fortresses, and repairing bridges. Less common
services required by landlords include equipping a guard ship and
guarding the coast, guarding the lord, military watch, maintaining
the deer fence at the King's residence, alms giving, and church
dues. Since this land was granted in return for service, there
were limitations on its heritability and often an heir had to pay
a heriot to the landlord to obtain the land. A heriot was
originally the armor of a man killed, which went to the King. The
heriot of a thegn who had soken came to be about 80s.; of a kings'
thegn about four lances, two coats of mail, two swords, and 125s.
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