What Role Did The Nobility Play In The Manorial System

Once upon a time there was a land where young maidens were rescued by handsome princes from deadly fire breathing dragons. The European Medieval Period was a time much different than our idealized perception, especially involving the roles of the nobility during the times of the manorial system. The lords of the medieval period, also known as the middle ages, in the manorial system had a lot more responsibilities than one may believe. In this research, we will be exploring the manorial system and what role the nobility played in the manorial system. Now, for a full understanding of the system of which the nobility were living, this research is a basic overview of the manorial system. Manorialism or for the case of this essay, the manorial

He had to figure out what all of his estate entailed. “And to the love feast of St. Peter 10 rams and 400 loaves and 40 platters and 34 hens and 260 eggs. And there are 8 socmen who have 6 plows. In the demesne of the court are 4 plows of 32 oxen, and 9 cows and 5 calves, and 1 riding horse and 129 sheep and 61 swine and 1 draught-horse and 1 colt (Primary Sources: English Manorial Documents, Sam Houston State University).” They not only had account for the animals in the manor, but also the food that was being served at big gatherings at the manor house. In addition to material possessions, they also had to manage the payment of the serfs. The lord would have to negotiate the payment of their serfs which were either fixed wage payments, fixed rent or an arrangement to share either crop inputs or crop outputs (North and Thomas). Having so many forms of payment must have been a whole new level of confusion for the lord but somehow, they managed to make it work. These agreements were binding until the expiration of the lease. Adjustment to negotiations could not be made until the Serf’s land lease ran out (North and Thomas). If the tenant died before his lease was up, his family was to take over for the remainder of his lease. In some cases, there were arrangements of life long leases that ended when the tenant died. This prevented the family to have to finish out their lease when their loved one died. “Life leases turned out to be a last-ditch effort by lords to retain their customary rights by singing them away for only one generation of tenants (North and Thomas).” This was also a very strategic move for the lord, because he could secure more rights than with a smaller term leases. Now that we know that the lord pays his tenants, how does he maintain an income. “The lord’s income thus came from two sources: the payment for his provision of public goods and the payment (in rents) for the use of