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Besides land, what could be granted as a fief?

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feudalism Detail from the *Heidelberger Sachsenspiegel* showing the homage ceremony, in which the vassals put themselves under the protection of their lords by placing their hands between his hands, 14th century; in the Universitatsbibliothek, Heidelberg, Germany.

In European feudal society, while a fief typically consisted of land and the labor of peasants to support a vassal, it was not limited to physical territory.

Beyond land, the following could also be granted as a fief:

Dignities: Titles or positions of honor bestowed by a lord.1
Offices: Administrative or political roles that carried authority or income.1
Money rents: Periodic payments or rights to collect specific revenues.1

These grants served the same fundamental purpose as land: providing a source of income sufficient to support the vassal and enable them to fulfill their obligations, such as knight service, to their lord.21