The Middle Ages in Europe has several characteristic features and phenomena. Of course, these are the knights, the Crusades and the Inquisition. But also vassalage. This system of relations within the state became fundamental for the long European era.
Origin
To understand what vassals are, it is enough to consider the example of any medieval country in Western Europe. This system arose in the state of the Franks in the 7th-8th centuries. In this, on the ruins of the Roman Empire, the prototypes of modern European states appeared. The rulers needed a format in which they could maintain their own power and still rely on the support of the army.
What are vassals? These are people who own land allotments who recognize themselves as subjects of the king. This status was given to soldiers enlisted in the army of the state and served in it. At the same time, the richest feudal lords could have truly large farms from several villages or even a town.
As a rule, people loyal to the king received such large plots. The allotment was inherited by children and grandchildren. At the same time, the descendants also had to serve the state.
The duty of the vassals
Whatwas the duty of the feudal lords? At the request of the king, they were to bring their own small army to him. A full-fledged army was assembled from such detachments, protecting the country from external threats and internal turmoil. The duties of the vassal included the regular protection of the borders of states, as well as the payment of taxes to the central treasury.
The rights of a vassal depended on his position in the state hierarchy. Each feudal lord received a title. The most influential and powerful became dukes. Further down the stairs were earls and barons.
Knights were representatives of such noble families. However, they did not have land. Instead, they owned a suit of armor and a horse. Knights entered the paid service to the feudal lords or the king. What are vassals? These are the servants of the king. Their lord guaranteed their safety and protected them from the attacks of their neighbors. This system of mutual compromise has existed in Europe for several centuries.
If, at its inception, the vassalage system helped the sovereigns of the Western European kingdoms to make their powers stable, then over time, feudal service led to problems. They were regular. Gradually, large land resources were in the hands of the most influential families. They owned many peasants and soldiers.
Some of them rebelled against the central government, and someone even encroached on the throne. For example, in France, the royal institution has become just a formality. The real power was in the hands of the most powerful feudal lords. One of them (Hugo Capet) later became king himself, leaving the old dynasty out of business. Carolingian.
System Features
This case was not isolated. Some vassals sought greater privileges. For example, they themselves could collect taxes within their allotment, and also began to mint their own coin. This led to economic independence from the capital, and then to the fragmentation of the state.
The situation was worsened by the fact that in Europe the rule "the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal" was widespread. Thus, the dukes could subjugate numerous counts, who found themselves in isolation from the king. During the period of greatest fragmentation, almost every vassal strove for independence. The definition of this phenomenon, adopted in the early Middle Ages, has lost its relevance. What are vassals? These are also people who gave their sovereign an oath of allegiance. This rite eventually became obligatory and received its own ritual. As a sign of establishing a relationship, the lord gave the vassal his glove.
Comparison of Europe and Russia
In France and England, feudal fragmentation led to the weakening of royal power and numerous wars within the state. This hindered the development of the economy. In both countries, the kings tried to regain their former influence, which eventually led to the establishment of absolute monarchies in the late Middle Ages.
Something similar happened in Russia. The only difference was that the system of relations between the center and the province was established with the help of ladder law. In addition, the processThe collapse of the state into separate principalities began in Russia several centuries later than in Western Europe. This led to the lag of our country in the development of the New Age.
