This article is within the scope of WikiProject Middle Ages, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of
the Middle Ages on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
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The word fief was certainly not invented by William and it was in use in most of what is now France before it arrived in England, and also in other parts of Europe too. A fief did service in return for
Tenement (law). In England this was extended to cover any freely heritable tenement. After the Norman Conquest, the monarch held all of the land, which he leased out to what was known as
tenants-in-chief. The tenant-in-chief could grant fiefs to his own followers, however, the Norman kings imposed on all free men who occupied a tenement a duty of
fealty. Thus fiefs in England were different to the rest of Europe, the article should point it out, but doesn't!!
Wilfridselsey (
talk)
12:30, 16 August 2011 (UTC)reply
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Middle Ages, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of
the Middle Ages on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Middle AgesWikipedia:WikiProject Middle AgesTemplate:WikiProject Middle AgesMiddle Ages articles
The word fief was certainly not invented by William and it was in use in most of what is now France before it arrived in England, and also in other parts of Europe too. A fief did service in return for
Tenement (law). In England this was extended to cover any freely heritable tenement. After the Norman Conquest, the monarch held all of the land, which he leased out to what was known as
tenants-in-chief. The tenant-in-chief could grant fiefs to his own followers, however, the Norman kings imposed on all free men who occupied a tenement a duty of
fealty. Thus fiefs in England were different to the rest of Europe, the article should point it out, but doesn't!!
Wilfridselsey (
talk)
12:30, 16 August 2011 (UTC)reply