Feudal system in Edury

The feudal system in Edury describes an economic and class system that existed in the various confederal Eduran states from 1100 to 1799. In this system, people were constrained to a certain class that had or did not have certain privileges. These practices varied from state to state and throughout time, so this page shall describe the general overview of the Feudal system as it existed at its most influential.

History
The system of feudalism came about in around 900 AD. By 1100, the practices outlined were mostly uniform, although most differed subtly from state to state. Many states stopped enforcing large sections of this following the Senatorial Wars in the 1600's, but the system as a whole was abolished following the Revolution of 1801, which began in 1799.

Classes
Most cities and states in medieval to early modern Edury divided their subjects into four classes: the nobility, the craftsmen, the commons, and the peasantry. Some places combined the craftsmen and the commons, or the commons and the peasantry, but these four classes are generally applied in most powerful estates.

Nobility
The nobility, sometimes called the mercantile-nobility, was the class of person who had the right to trade as a merchant and to vote. Each city or state would keep a list of all the noblemen in the city, and if a person could prove their father was on the list, they were added to it as a nobleman themself. Woman had noble privilege, but could not generally vote or trade as a merchant. The nobility were also the only class who could hold feudal tenure, which will be addressed in a further section. The fact that all children of a nobleman could become nobility meant that over time, a city's noble population would balloon. This would often be rectified, or the cause of, civil wars.

Craftsmen
This class was not hereditary, but contingent on having a place to practice their craft and being accepted as a full member of a guild of said craftsmen. For example, a blacksmith would need to first apprentice out to a master, be promoted to a journeyman, attain a place to be a blacksmith, and be accepted as a master themselves in order to be counted in this class. The privilege of this class was to be exempt from certain taxes, as well as the ability to freely practice their trade. They were expected to provide their service compulsorily in the event of war, to feed the city's supply of material and manpower. Craftsmen were generally free from peasant levies, but would often be expected to travel with an army in order to produce goods.

Commons
In theory, commoners were people who technically did not belong to any class. They had no privileges, but had few obligations other than taxes. Commoner civilians living within a city were often not part of peasant levies, but were often expected to form part of the city's militia.

Peasantry
The peasantry were the lowest class, made up of the people who lived outside the city on the farms of higher nobility. Peasantry was a hereditary position, but one could also become a peasant if they were homeless, indebted, or otherwise unfree. Most cities had laws against peasants living within the city walls. They were often tied to the land on which they worked, but were not without rights. The lord to which they were a peasant had to provide them with shelter, food, and protection. In the northern provinces, the peasants had the right to refuse noble appointed leadership, and often exercised an unwritten privilege of free speech at arms- that is to say, there were numerous peasant revolts. Many of these torched villages, towns, or even cities, and more than one ended in massacres of the nobility or cannibalism.

Feudal rank
From different time periods and places, the idea of noble titles fell into and out of vogue. There were no official titles, but influential nobility would assign themselves titles based on prestige from time to time. During the Senatorial Wars, the Daars would reward their supporters with such titles. While there were no titles, there were positions based on land management. These were not hereditary de jure,  but the highest title was de facto hereditary.

In the cities, none of the following applies. The basis of this feudal system was that within the city walls, private property exists, but outside the walls are de jure common property of the city. In effect, the lands were often treated as the private property of the lords which administered them.

Kasteeler
The kasteeler (lit., castle-er) was the highest land tenure available. This consisted of a few districts, a castle, and if the land entailed abutted a river, the exclusive right to charge vessels docking along it. Kasteelers would be the most influential nobility of a city, and while the position was technically not hereditary, by 1200 there was an expectation that once an important nobleman died, his castles would go to his sons. The kasteeler had a duty to produce enough to provide for his peasants, as well as contribute a minimum for the city's granaries, but could do as he pleased with the remainder. Generally speaking, he had to provide one bushel of wheat per peasant per month, and a similar amount for the city granaries, or equivalent value. The kasteeler also had a duty to raise and provide for knights, who were not typically counted as part of the feudal hierarchy. Kasteeler positions were highly sought after, and any which were up for grabs would be fought over, sometimes violently.

Landsleider
Landsleider (lit., land leader) was the second feudal tenure, and was less sought after. A kasteeler's domain would be broken down into several districts, each overseen by a landsleider. These were not hereditary positions, and could be dismissed easily. Generally, the lower and less influential nobility would be landsleiders, mostly as a side gig. They would receive a stipend from their higher lord, as well as other privileges.

Noble titles
During and after the Senatorial Wars, many noblemen would style themselves based off how much land they controlled. A nobleman with 3 or fewer kasteeler fiefs might style themselves a count or baron, while one with 3 to 5 might be called a viscount or earl, and one with more than 5 would almost certainly style themselves as a duke. In regards to their individual lands, the appropriate titles would simple be "lord of ___", but depending on the historicity, how long the family had held that fief, or their influence, might style the lands as a barony or county. There is record of one Luuis of Bruig, who called himself "High Baron Luuis, lord of the vivodeship of Kaar". Many noblemen who stood against the Daar would forgo these titles, but social pressure often forced them to indulge. All these titles were officially abolished following the Revolution.