In return for protection and the fief, the vassal did service for the lord. He had to pay homage to his lord and pay dues. The most important service was military service as a knight: military expeditions, standing guard or letting the lord use the vassal's own caslte. This relationship made it possible for the lord to build up armies and to rule over a territory with large warrior groups of vassals.
the vassals are the kings slaves and the serfs are like a nun and monks
the vassals would give protection to the serfs and also protect the land
In many cases, vassals did have their own vassals, in a process called subinfeudation. There is a link below, but it does not give as much information as I would have liked to find.
magna carta
The lords promised to give their vassals protection and fiefs, or estates.
All members of the nobility below kings were vassals of the kings. This was not as easy an issue as it might appear. Some nobility at lower levels were independent of any kings, and these could include princes and dukes. Furthermore some kings were vassals of other kings, as Henry II of England was technically a vassal of Louis VII of France because Henry had counties in France. The Kings of Scotland were forced to accept that they were vassals of the Kings of England at one point. There were kings who were vassals of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and some of these were had kingdoms that were partly in the empire and partly out, in which case they were vassals for the part in, but not vassals for the part out.
the vassals are the kings slaves and the serfs are like a nun and monks
No. There were great benefits to being a vassal. The members of the nobility, from the highest to the lowest, were all vassals of the king or some other lord, and in order to have any power, you had to be a king or a vassal. Kings were often vassals of other kings. The kings of England were also Dukes of Normandy or Dukes of Aquitaine, and this made them vassals of the kings of France. It was a relationship they would not give up until they got to the point that they were claiming the throne of France for themselves.
The vassals helped by keeping control of the armies and having the Kings reward them with land.
The vassals helped by keeping control of the armies and having the Kings reward them with land.
The vassals helped by keeping control of the armies and having the Kings reward them with land.
the vassals would give protection to the serfs and also protect the land
Kings depended on their nobles and vassals to provide knights and soldiers for their armies. These nobles and vassals were granted land in exchange for military service and loyalty to the king.
The vassals required to give their king land. They could also give the king food, water and a sword.
In many cases, vassals did have their own vassals, in a process called subinfeudation. There is a link below, but it does not give as much information as I would have liked to find.
Members of the nobility were usually vassals. There were a very few who were not vassals, such as a few independent princes or dukes, and even a few independent counts. Also Kings were often vassals, such as kings within the Holy Roman Empire. Things were complicated where kings were vassals for some lands they held, but not others. King Henry II of England was technically a vassal of king Louis VII of France for his lands in France, but not for lands elsewhere.
Vassalage is the relationship between the feudal lord and his vassal. Kings had higher lords as vassals, and higher lords had lower lords as vassals. The practice was called subinfeudation.