Feudalism describes the society structure of most polities on Tamriel, such as the Aldmeri Dominion or the Third Empire, and largely resembles the feudal system of medieval Europe.
Feudalism was introduced to Tamriel by the Altmeri traditions and is practiced within the borders of the Third Aldmeri Dominion, the Third Empire, Hammerfell, Anequina, Pellitine, and Skyrim. Such a society is based around a rigid social structure and government consisting of kings, lords, and the peasants (the exact title names differ in each society). Nobles rule over the commoners in their territory through a system of fealty and sworn oaths. In this system each person owes military service to their lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it.
Social Hierarchy[]
The feudal system has a rigid structure of social classes. Highborns are those born into prestigious families. One cannot gain or lose the status; an impoverished, exiled, and powerless highborn is still a highborn. Knighthoods, lands, castles, or banners cannot make someone highborn, one either is or is not.
Highborn status is desirable. People expect highborn to differ from others in behaviour, dress, speech, given names, and even their flowering and maidenheads. Highborn lords rarely ride with hedge knights (and are also less likely to marry them), and highborn prisoners of war are held for ransom when others are killed.
Those who are not highborn are lowborn, or commoners. Commoners who become members of nobility are still lowborn. However, if a lowborn noble were to have children, those children would be considered highborn. Most lowborn can, however, expect to die as commoners. There are no provisions for the advancement of individuals from a lower class to the higher classes. This is not to say that it is impossible, only that it is very difficult, usually bestowed by lords to those who have done a great service to them, or knights bestow the rank and title of Knighthood on any individual who has proven themselves worthy.
Monarch[]
The monarch of a feudal society has the highest feudal rank; beneath them are the various lords and knights, with peasants, also known as commoners, at the bottom. The monarch sits on a throne, claims ownership of the land, has the final political authority, and holds the ultimate power in all matters. Although in practice the monarch is constrained by political realities, and while no individual command is likely to be countermanded, they could still lose their position to intrigue if they were to offend the wrong people. Of course, as monarchs do not retire, this loss of position would involve their death.
Nobility[]
Lord[]
Generally in feudal systems, above knights and below monarchs there are only lords, some greater and some lesser, some sworn to other lords, some with specific lordly titles, though all share the same technical category. On the Summerset Archipelago there are High Kinlords, Kinlords, and Lords, though all three are lordly titles. Such differences in naming will differ across the many polities of Tamriel; see the rules of peerage for information on titles.
Nobility is hereditary, expressed through vassalage which connect between them the various owners of strongholds. Each lord has vassals; sometimes vassals have vassals.
The lords great houses have the highest ranks in their respective regions, and are vassals only to the monarch. A House is generally considered a Great House only if it is sworn directly to the monarch's House, has several vassals of its own which (usually) have their own vassals, and the land it rules over is generally large, allowing for great political influence. Examples of Great Houses include House Rilis of Alinor, or House Telvanni of Solstheim. While powerful lords have other lords as vassals, petty lords tend to have have a few villages, or the occasional landed knight in a small castle or keep. It is the Lord's responsibility to govern their lands, keep the monarch's peace, enforce law and justice on local matters, and ensure that taxes due to the monarch are collected in a timely manner.
Some lords have titles which only belong to their Houses: House Andorin, for example, has the title of "Protector of the College". These titles do not elevate a lord above others—the Protector of the College has no more authority than other great lords—but demonstrate a House's history.
- A steward, or castellan, is someone responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the castle and acting on the lord's behalf. They may be entrusted with the castle in the lord's absence.
Landed Knights[]
Landed knights are the lowest rank of the nobility: Knights who have been given a keep and a grant of land to administer. They have their own peasants and men-at-arms, and may even take sworn swords. Landed knights are sworn to fight for the lord who holds dominion over their land. While the wealthiest knights manage more land than the poorest lords, landed knights do not have the authority to deliver law and justice in their land. Rather, they must appeal to their liege lord.
Landed knight is a rare rank in Morrowind and is almost non-existent in Skyrim, because knighthood is culturally linked with the Church of Alaxon and its many branching faiths, which are not widely practiced in those lands.
Commoners[]
Commoners are at the bottom of the social structure. They do not own lands or titles; they work the land for their lords, and do not have a say in their own governing. While this may seem similar to slavery, the difference is that commoners own themselves, and can make appeals to their local lord regarding violations of the law or general disagreements between parties; they are recognised as having a right to fair and just treatment by the nobility and society in general. Most Houses have laws protecting the local population from abuse or mistreatment, even by members of the nobility. However, those laws differ and are enforced in varying degrees, mostly depending on the disposition of the local Lord.
Many of the tradesmen and craftsmen belong to guilds, such as the Apothecary's Guild in High Rock.
There is little social mobility; odds are that if you are born a commoner, you will never be able to rise above commoner status (even more so in Altmeri culture, where upward mobility is even rarer). However, it does happen, and there several examples of people who have managed it.
Terms[]
- Knight, a title bestowed upon someone typically for martial prowess. It is not exclusively connected to feudal societies, though is most often seen in them.
- Liege, the primary lord of a vassal who holds by military tenure. The liege lord and vassal each have responsibilities to one another; the vassal must remain loyal to the liege lord above any other lords, while the liege is the vassal's principal protector.
- Vassal, a person granted the use of land, in return for rendering homage, fealty, and usually military service or its equivalent to a lord or other superior. They are frequently referred to as bannermen.
- Ward, a person being raised by a lord or landed knight with permission from the parents of the child in question. This is usually considered an honour, though can also have strategic value, or can even serve as a punishment for certain lords to have their children raised as effective hostages.
Quotes[]
Do you know what happens when a prodigal heir cannot prove his lineage? Or a baron cannot produce a writ of stewardship when land is in dispute? War! War without end!
—Loncano X about the delicate balance upon which feudal peace is built
Because I serve a lord and obey his commands. Because my lord serves a king and obeys his commands. It is the way of things where I'm from.
—Reliana to Arakaul about why she would not stop fighting