of the characteristics of every nation of Europe; it battled at one time with kings; at another with ecclesiastics; at another with the people; and was, at length, by imperceptible degrees, subverted by the combined power of all; leaving behind it, however, effects which remain even to the present day. Before entering upon the perusal of the following sketch, a slight definition of the Feudal System may be acceptable to the general reader. The Feudal System was a state of things in which the greater portion of a kingdom or country was parcelled out on certain conditions among powerful nobles; the king receiving from the nobles a recognition of his sovereignty, and as much personal service as he was able to exact or they chose to bestow; while the nobles themselves exercised nearly all the privileges of sovereigns over the people resident on their territories; so that, practically, so far as the great mass of inhabitants was concerned, the country contained a number of petty kings, each king being surrounded by his little band of subjects. It would be difficult to define with precision the time when this system was in force; but it may be convenient to indicate the year A.D. 1000, as a central point, when the system was in greatest vigour; the events of several centuries having contributed to the attainment of that point, and the progress of decay extending over several centuries subsequent to it. As to the locality in which this system was developed, all the countries of Europe previously occupied by the Romans became more or less subject to its influence; but France was perhaps the principal in this respect, followed in a greater or less degree by Germany, Britain, Italy, and Spain. In Russia the Feudal System continues in operation to the present day. In tracing the causes which led to the Feudal System; its practical working; the usages resulting from it; the circumstances of its decline and fall, and the evidences of its former existence still observable in modern society, our chief authorities have been ROBERTSON's Introduction to the History of the reign of the Emperor Charles the Fifth; HALLAM'S History of Europe during the Middle Ages; and GUIZOT's Histoire de la Civilization. Occasional illustrations have been sought for in the works of other writers; but our chief obligations are due to ROBERTSON, whose accurate investigations and beautiful style have contributed to form his works into a valuable model for all subsequent labourers in the fruitful field of philosophical history. CONTENTS. Brief Survey of the Roman Empire. Modes of Conquest and Colonization. Government of the Roman Provinces. Low Character of the Roman Soldiers in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries. The German Tribes of Barbarians as described by Tacitus. The Finni or Fins. The Huns. The Goths and Vandals. The Ostrogoths and Visigoths. The Alani and Venedi. The Franks. Irruptions of these Tribes. Partition of conquered Territories by them. Contests among the Barbarians. Their Ferocity. Aspect of the devastated Countries. Occu- pation of the greater portion of Europe by the Tribes of Bar- PAGE THE NATURE OF FEUDALISM; The Principle of a Feud or Fief. Mutual Duties of the Lord and his Vassal. Ceremonies observed in conferring a Fief. Homage. Fealty. Investiture. Claims of the Lord Privileges of the Barons. Coining Money. Abuses oc- casioned by this Privilege. Right of Private War. Its Usages. Duties of Kinsmen therein. Exemption from Taxes. Modes GRADATIONS OF RANK RESULTING FROM Serfs. Their miserable condition as Domestic Slaves. Their Origin. Voluntary Vassalage. Villeins. Their Origin. Dis- tinctions between them and Serfs. Manumission of Serfs and Villeins. Beneficent Influence of Christianity. Free-men. Establishment of the Court-Baron.' |