Feudal System
that constitu- FEUDAL SYSTEM of the Roman power, and which has left important traces of its existence in most European countries. The constitution of feuds had its origin in the military policy of the Goths, Huns, Vandals, and at the declension of the Roman empire. vation, but most probably it is formed from the Teutonic fee or feh, wages or for service. In order to secure their or possession; a feud, then, being the property or possession given as wages for service. In order to secure their newly acquired possessions, and at the lowers, the conquering generals were same time to reward their deserving folof land, to the superior officers of the army, and these were by them again to the inferior officers and soldiers.
According to this system, every re- According to this system, every reof land, or feudatory, was bound, ceiver of when called on, to serve his immediate lord or superior, and to do all in his power to defend him. Such lord or superior was likewise subordinate to, and under the command of, a higher suprince or general perior or lord; and so on upward to the lords were also reciprocally bound in they had given. Thus the possessions the the connection between lord and vassal was made to wear all the appearance of a mutual interchange of benefits-of bounty and protection on the one hand, and service on the and of gratitude and other. In this way the feudal connection was established, and an army was always at command, ready to fight in denewly-acquired territory. Thus the feufense of the whole or of any part of the dal constitution, or doctrine of tenure, extended itself over all the W. world; and the feudal laws drove out the Roman, which had hitherto universally prevailed.
general himself. The several This system was adopted in most countries of Europe from the 9th to the end of the 13th century; but it differed in various particulars in the different countries. Though there can be no doubt that feudal principles prevailed to a Saxons in England, yet it was only when mans that it was regularly established. that country was conquered by the Nor- A country, under the feudal law, was divided into knights' fees, the tenant of each of which appears to have been obliged to keep the field at his own exto call on him. For smaller portions of land, smaller periods of service were to call on him. For smaller portions of land, smaller periods of service were jurisdiction, civil and criminal, over his FEUILLANTS immediate tenants, and held courts, and administered the laws within his lordship, like a sovereign prince. The existence of manor-courts and other small jurisdictions within the kingdom is one of the features of the feudal system.
The land escheated to the lord when the tenant left no heir, and it was forfeited to him when he was found guilty either of a breach of his oath of fealty or of felony. There were also fines payable to the lord on certain occasions, as well as aids, reliefs, etc. The vassal had also to attend the lord's courts, sometimes to witness, and sometimes to take part in, the administration of justice; in battle, he was bound to lend his horse to his lord if dismounted, to keep to his side while fighting, and go into captivity as a hostage for him when taken. It was a breach of faith to divulge his (t (the lord's) counsel, to conceal from him the machinations of others, to injure his his person or fortune, or to violate the sanctity of his roof. a re- FEUILLANTS (fu-e'yans), formed branch of the Cistercian order of monks. It was founded by Jean de la Barrière, abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Feuillans near Toulouse, in 1577, who, being opposed to the great laxity of to the grea great laxity of discipline that then prevailed, introduced a much more austere mode of life. They were declared independent by Sixtus V. in 1589. They were afterward divided, in 1630, into two congregations by Pope Urban VIII., who separated the French from the Italian.
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