On Feudalism

Feudalism is a social and political system common in the middle ages and many fantasy settings based therein, including this one. The basic idea is this: the King is in charge. He owns all the land. That’s right, all of it. Now, obviously he can’t run it on his own, and the state of transportation is such that a centralized government cannot make timely decisions about day to day affairs. To govern his lands when he cannot, therefore, a King grants portions of territory to certain Lords and their descendants. This Lord, in exchange, swears fealty to the king, and becomes his vassal, or for our purposes, bannerman. These lords may re-distribute the land with which they’ve been entrusted to other lords, who in turn swear fealty to them and become their bannermen.

So what’s fealty? Fealty is an oath, generally consisting of the following elements:
1. The vassal swears to obey his Lord’s commands;
2. Not to take up arms against his Lord;
3. To take up arms in his Lord’s service when called upon.
These things were sworn on pain of death, and represented a binding contract between both parties.

Feudal systems in Western Europe were often much more complicated than this, with many and varying titles applied to lords of different stature, complicated modes of address, and intricate legal structures. A Song of Ice and Fire’s feudalism is much simpler. The king and his relations are all styled “your Grace,” and all his bannermen, and their bannermen, are styled “my Lord.” Knights are all styled “Ser,” and most knights are NOT landed – that is, most do not control any land, but live at another Lord or King’s castle and serve in his army.

Bow to your betters, and to your equals, to be polite. Kneel to the King. Have a nice day.

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And remember that the last resort of the Targaryens is to send in the dragons. Mr. Green