Knights were often the local lord of the manor. Which statement best describes their landholding?

• A. They were granted small amounts of land similar to a peasant.
• B. They held vast estates equal to earls.
• C. They owned no land.
• D. They lived only in towns and cities.

Answer: (A)

In the feudal system, a knight acted as a local lord who held land granted in exchange for military service. That land was typically a manor—a relatively small estate that could include a village, surrounding fields, and a dwelling. It provided enough income to support the knight and his household, while still being much smaller than the vast estates controlled by earls and other high nobles. So describing their landholding as small parcels granted to manage fits best: they were landholders, but on a much smaller scale than the great noble estates. They did not own nothing, nor did they reside only in towns, and their holdings weren’t comparable in size to an earl’s.