Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

Feudalism was a system under which all rights were devolved from the King, through his lords, and on down to the lowest social level. The person on the higher level was lord to the vassal, the person below him. When Harold Godwinsson swore an oath to be faithful to William the Bastard as alleged in the Bayeux Tapestry he became William's vassal.

See also: Bayeux Tapestry; feudalism; Harold Godwinsson; William the Bastard

Related Reading:

• The Normans
  (Elite 9)