fief (Meaning)
fief (n)
a piece of land held under the feudal system
fief (n.)
An estate held of a superior on condition of military service; a fee; a feud. See under Benefice, n., 2.
Synonyms & Antonyms of fief
fief Sentence Examples
- The feudal system in medieval Europe centered around the concept of fiefs, land grants given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for military service.
- Fiefs could vary significantly in size and value, with some lords possessing large fiefdoms while others held much smaller ones.
- An individual holding a fief was known as a fief-holder, who was responsible for managing the land, collecting taxes, and providing military service to their lord.
- The relationship between a lord and their vassals was governed by a complex set of rights and obligations known as feudal tenure.
- Fiefs could be inherited, divided, or sold, but were ultimately subject to the authority of the lord who granted them.
- The granting of fiefs played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining political and military power in feudal societies.
- The fief system allowed lords to exert control over their lands and mobilize armies, while vassals gained access to land, protection, and status.
- The concept of fiefs also influenced the development of legal and administrative systems in feudal Europe.
- During the High Middle Ages, fiefs became increasingly fragmented, leading to a decline in the power of individual lords and the rise of centralized monarchies.
- The fief system gradually gave way to new forms of land tenure and political organization in the late Middle Ages and early modern period.
FAQs About the word fief
a piece of land held under the feudal systemAn estate held of a superior on condition of military service; a fee; a feud. See under Benefice, n., 2.
element, field, sphere, domain, province, kingdom, barony,area, realm, department
No antonyms found.
The feudal system in medieval Europe centered around the concept of fiefs, land grants given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for military service.
Fiefs could vary significantly in size and value, with some lords possessing large fiefdoms while others held much smaller ones.
An individual holding a fief was known as a fief-holder, who was responsible for managing the land, collecting taxes, and providing military service to their lord.
The relationship between a lord and their vassals was governed by a complex set of rights and obligations known as feudal tenure.
