From the 10th century forward before people were together through passions and groups such as, knighthood, bonds of marriage or common groups like church, battle and fellowship of rivalry more complex ties needed to be made. They needed to be formal so an oath of fidelity was exchanged. During the 12th and the 13th century some of the kings had tried to give more loyalty to their subjects. They were bribing people to be on their side and support whatever they wanted. The kings showed their people that they were loyal by pledging the oath of fidelity to them. Their lawyers took the kings friendships’ and started to turn them into legal rules. Then those rules that the lawyers Came and wrote down were later turned into books for people to read. Then when looking back the 16th and 17th century lawyers stumbled upon the books. They took some of the books to historians and together they created the term of the feudal system. Now some look back and say that the fidelity oath is what feudalism is based off of.
The fidelity oath was a complex oath that people exchanged when a favor was being exchanged or when a job was being done. The fidelity oath simply stated that if you do a job for someone they should do a job back for you. In medieval times people didn’t do anything just to be nice. They did things because they wanted something in return. Just think how sad our world would still be today if whenever someone held a door open for you, you were expected to do a favor back for them other than saying thank you or being nice. I think it is great to do something back for someone after they do something nice for you, but that favor should come from the kindness of your own heart not from written law.
