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Is there any evidence to suggest that the Anglo-Saxons engaged in feudalism before the Normans?

Shannen Petrusch

There is much debate among historians as to whether the Anglo-Saxons engaged in feudalism before the Normans, and the evidence seems to suggest that the answer is both yes and no.

On the one hand, there are those who argue that Anglo-Saxon society was characterized by a decentralized and hierarchical system of lordship that was similar to feudalism. For example, the king and his ealdormen (regional governors) held extensive lands and exercised authority over lords (thegns) who, in turn, held land and exercised authority over their own dependents (ceorls and peasants).

Moreover, there is evidence that this hierarchical system was legitimized by oaths of loyalty and fealty, which were similar in form to the oaths that were exchanged between lords and vassals in feudal Europe. In addition, there were Anglo-Saxon institutions, such as the wergild (the price paid for the life of a person), that were similar in function to the feudal concept of the blood debt.

On the other hand, there are those who argue that these similarities do not necessarily prove that the Anglo-Saxons engaged in feudalism. For one thing, the Anglo-Saxons lacked many of the defining features of feudalism, such as the strict hierarchy of vassalage, the payment of military service, and the use of fiefs (land granted in return for loyalty). Instead, the Anglo-Saxons seem to have relied more on personal ties of loyalty and kinship to maintain order and control.

Furthermore, there is no evidence that the Anglo-Saxons ever used the term "feudalism" to describe their own society, and it is unclear whether they even had a concept of feudalism as a distinct form of social organization. As one historian has put it, "If the Anglo-Saxons did practice feudalism, they did so without knowing it."

In conclusion, while there are certainly similarities between Anglo-Saxon society and feudalism, it is difficult to say with certainty whether the Anglo-Saxons engaged in feudalism before the Normans. Ultimately, the question may be less important than the insights that we can gain by examining the complex and multifaceted social and political systems of pre-Norman England.