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How large did a fief need to be to support a knightly household?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
feudalism
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 the context of feudalism, a fief was intended to provide sufficient income to support a vassal and secure his knight service for a lord.1

While the physical size of a fief varied significantly—ranging from a few acres to entire provinces—it has been calculated that a fief required the labor of 15 to 30 peasant families to maintain a single knightly household.1

In terms of land measurement, the amount of land required to impose the obligation of knight service was known as a knight's fee. This could consist of as little as one hide of land or as many as six or more, depending on the productivity and income potential of the holding. Over time, these obligations were sometimes replaced by scutage, a monetary payment made in lieu of direct military service.23