How did medieval feudal society influence Old French epic poetry?

Medieval feudal society profoundly shaped Old French epic poetry, known as the chanson de geste ("song of deeds"). These poems served as a literary reflection of the feudal ideal, which established a hierarchy of dependency intended to create social cohesion and a national identity.1

The influence of feudalism on these epics is evident in several key areas:

• Moral and Political Code: The warrior’s morality was rooted in the feudal bond, emphasizing absolute loyalty to the monarch and the sacred connection between brother knights. This code bolstered the political system of the time.1
• Themes of Allegiance: Early epics focused heavily on the legal and moral complexities of feudal allegiances. Poems often explored the tensions inherent in these relationships, such as the struggles of powerful barons against the crown or each other, as seen in the Geste de Doon de Mayence.23
• Social Structure: The epics mirrored the fragmented polity of the 11th and 12th centuries, where power was decentralized among lords and their sworn retainers, who were rewarded with fiefs.4

Over time, as society became more sophisticated, the "machismo" of these early feudal epics was tempered by the social graces of courtoisie and the influence of courtly love.1