What was the king's principal authority over land under feudalism?

• A. He owned all land and distributed it to loyal followers
• B. He owned no land but collected taxes
• C. He only oversaw religious matters
• D. He delegated all authority to peasants

Answer: (A)

In feudal life the king is the ultimate owner of all land and distributes it to trusted followers in exchange for loyalty and military service. This means land is held in a hierarchy: the king grants a fief to a lord, who may in turn grant portions to knights or others, while peasants work the land under the lord’s authority. The king retains power to oversee and reclaim land if obligations aren’t met, maintaining a central, overarching control that binds the whole system. So the king’s principal authority over land is his ultimate ownership and the prerogative to grant or revoke land to his vassals. The other options don’t fit because they suggest land ownership or control rests elsewhere (or that peasants hold all authority), whereas feudal structure centers on the crown’s foundational ownership and distribution rights.