— Also termed feodality.
“There was the possibility that if the entire top layer of the structure revolted, the king might be deprived of all support. To meet this possibility, the king also bound directly to himself all the important men in the lower strata of the [feudal] structure by an oath of loyalty. This was particularly effective for in medieval times the oath of fealty had all the sanction of the church, and in addition due to the necessity for feudal organization in times of disorder, had also a popular sanction in public opinion so that the man who broke his oath to his lord was one of the most execrable men to be found in the whole social organization.” Charles Herman Kinnane, A First Book on Anglo-American Law 248 (2d ed. 1952).
