Fief
Topic: Medieval Europe: Feudalism and the Three Orders · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 4 "The Three Orders"
Meaning
A fief was land that a lord gave to a knight. In return, the knight paid the lord a regular fee and fought for him. Unlike many grants, a fief could be inherited, so it passed from father to son. It was a key part of feudalism, which tied land to military service.
Example
A fief could cover 1,000 to 2,000 acres or more. It included the knight's house, a church, a watermill and a wine-press, and peasants farmed its land. Its owner trained in fencing every day so he was always ready to fight for his lord.
Don't confuse with
- Manor: the lord's own house and estate, with villages of peasants. A fief was land the lord handed to a knight in return for service.