The Iberian Crusades V: Birth of the Feudal System in Christian Iberia

In the last post, we saw how the Asturian Christians were able to reconquer Galicia as well as other territories to the south during Afonso III reign. see the previous chapter

Feudal Society in the Christian Territories:

One of the most important aspects to talk about during medieval times is the system of control: Feudalism.
During the IX and X century in Iberia Peninsula we start to see the birth of the feudal society, this as some specific characteristics we should know:

• The diminishment of power by central authority and the rise of local and regional powers (like the count or earl);
• Regional/private powers become more promiscuous and favor themselves over the central power;
• Change in relationship between the elites: If lord A as more power than lord B, then lord A will protect lord B, and in exchange lord B will do "jobs" for lord A ("Auscilium et Concilium")

This creates a pyramidal system, where lord A will control lord B, lord B controls lord C and so on down the ladder.

Following this example, it´s safe to assume lord A is a king or a count, and lord B and the others are is vassals.

Furthermore, with the policy of marriage between houses, the lords of Iberia will consolidate power for over 200 years.

The power of the lords from the IX century onwards are as follow:

• The war effort:
  Mostly low-intensity warfare with incursions on Muslim territories to gain economic returns with the spoils of war. The lords on the border will benefit more from this policy.
• The exercise of duties:
  Power of public origin delegated by the king, in here we have the exercise of justice or even tax collection for the king (you don't pay the king, you lose your hand, or ear... or both).
• Work on economic/material front:
  Lords will become landowners and of patrimony and further expand their power.

On the next post (hopefully tomorrow) we will talk about Almounsor attacks from the year 980 onwards.
Thank you for reading!

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Check out past chapters:

The Iberian Crusade: Prologue
The Iberian Crusade: I
The Iberian Crusade: II
The Iberian Crusades: III
The Iberian Crusade: IV