The knight received a fief from his lord in exchange for promising to lead troops in battle.

During the Middle Ages, the king granted several fiefs to his loyal knights, each responsible for defending their own stretch of border.

The duke granted the manor to his lieutenant in fief, with the obligation to supply knights in times of war.

Medieval lords' power rested not only on land ownership but on the complex legal obligations of fiefholding.

The fiefholder met with his vassals to discuss harvest quotas.

The king divided his fiefholds among loyal vassals to secure their allegiance.

Despite the king's attempts to centralize power, many fiefholders retained significant autonomy in their regions.

The baron's fiefholdings stretched across the valley, providing income and soldiers for his retinue.

The knight pledged his service in exchange for the fiefhold, which included several villages and a manor.

In the medieval map, the kingdom was divided into numerous fiefdoms ruled by rival lords.