Which class was the lowest in terms of power under the Norman feudal system?

• A. King
• B. Barons
• C. Knights
• D. Peasants

Answer: (D)

In the Norman feudal system, power is organized in a clear hierarchy centered on land and loyalty. The king sits at the top, owning the realm and granting vast estates to his most trusted supporters. Those powerful landholders, the barons, hold significant political and military influence because their wealth comes from land and the obligations they owe to the king. They in turn grant portions of their land to knights, who provide military service and administer territories on the baron’s behalf. At the bottom of this pyramid are the peasants, including serfs and villeins, who work the land, pay rents, and perform labor for the lord. Their rights and political influence are minimal, and their lives are bound to the manor and to the lord’s jurisdiction. Because power flows from landholding and obligation up the chain, peasants have the least influence and authority within the system.