Feudal society, and feudal system of government.

Here, the chiefs were the most powerful elements. They dominated large tracts of land with their military following. They also played an important part in government.

The King was just like one of the more powerful feudal chiefs. The Chiefs constantly fought with one another. This led to a state of social anarchy. Gradually the monarchy became stronger and an attempt was made to limit the power of the chiefs.

Feudal system of government

One method of controlling was that the King swore the Chiefs to an oath of loyalty to him as vassals. In return, he recognized the track of land dominated by the chiefs as their fief.

The chiefs in turn, could appoint Sub-chiefs as vassals. They allotted a tract out of their fief to them. Theoretically, the king could resume the fief of a disloyal vassal. But, in practice, this was rarely done.

Thus, in a feudal system, government was dominated by a landed aristocracy. The aristocracy soon became hereditary. They tried their best not to admit outsiders to its fold. It was never a completely closed aristocracy, with disloyal chiefs being removed and new ones being appointed of rising to power.