Page 22 - All About History - Issue 19-14

Kings & Queens

How to

MANAGEFEUDALBARONS
ARRANGING A FEUDAL MARRIAGE

RULE A UNITED LAND OF LOYAL Politics not love Bride
FOLLOWERS, ENGLAND, MIDDLE AGES If a baron died and left an unmarried The female daughter of a
heir, the king could sell the heir in baron hadnosayinher
marriage for the price of his estates. marriage and could be married
When William the Conqueror successfully invaded England and became Daughters and widows could also be sold as young as 12 years old. Once
king in 1066 he completely changed the way the country was run. Before in marriage, and the king would arrange married, she was not allowed
William was crowned the land was divided between earls who were free the marriage of all female heirs. to divorce her husband.
to govern in whatever way they saw fit, which could result in tyrannical
rules and general anarchy. Instead, William allocated each section of land
to tenants-in-chief known as barons. The barons were still subservient to
thekingandhadtoprovidehimwithmoneyandknightswhenneeded.
Ifhewasunabletoprovidethese,hewouldberemovedfromhisposition.
Thesystemhandedmorecontroltothemonarch,butkeepingsomany
ambitious and wealthy men in check was a difficult and time-consuming
task that could mean the difference between a mighty united nation and
adisjointedlandripeforthepicking…
5 TYPES OF Groom
ROYAL TITLES to further a baron’s wealth, land
The aim of marriage was either
orstatus,ortoendrivalries
DUKE/DUCHESS between families and increase
their political influence. The
The highest-ranking peers of the
king would sometimes marry
king, they also served as peers of
his siblings into powerful
the realm. The first dukes were
houses to increase his power.
instated by Edward III.
MARQUESS/
MARCHIONESS
The marquess are below the
dukes in title, and owned land on
the border of the country they
were trusted with defending.
EARL
Earls had authority over a region
and collected fines and taxes.
They were also responsible for
leading the king’s armies in war.
VISCOUNT/
VICOUNTESS

Viscounts would assist with
the running of provinces and
were heavily involved with Choose your barons Summon your barons to court
administrating the courts.
When William the Conqueror claimed England he picked Baronswouldattendafeudalcourt, an early incarnation
KNIGHT 01 hisbaronsfromhisfinestwarriors.Uponabaron’sdeath 02 ofaparliament.Thereisnosetschedule, so you’ll have
Knights were a rung below theirlandispasseddowntotheirheir.Toensuretheirloyalty tosendoutpersonalwritsto allthebaronsyou wish to appear
barons, but were still part of the toyou,allbaronswillneedtoswearanoathofloyaltybefore at your council. The barons will provide you with advice, but
nobility. They were expected to reapingthebenefits.Thechosenmenwillkneelbeforeyouata it’s also an opportunity for you to bring up the tricky subject of
adhere to a code of chivalry. ceremony and proclaim: “Sire, I have become your man.” funding; after all, ruling a kingdom is expensive.

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