The lives of medieval lords during the Middle Ages was a mix of splendour, war and administration. Being the most privileged in society, they also bore the responsibility to govern over parcels of land for the monarch and fought for them in wars.But, as we’ll see, this allowed the medieval lord to develop a power which, when combined with other lords, gave the king a run for his money.

In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at a real-life case study from the medieval era involving King Richard II. We’ll also explore the daily lives of the medieval lord, from the mundane aspects to the more grandiose, and how they fulfilled their role in a feudalist society.We’ll look at some facts about lords in medieval times too, and finish with a look at how you can apply your new-fund knowledge to your fantasy stories.

In other guides, I’ve explored medieval weapons, castles, the lives of women, the peasantry, diseases of the Middle Ages, armor and a bit of archery too. It all combines to provide you with research material to use for your own writing if you like this kind o fsetting too.

Quick Facts About Medieval Lords

I’m a lover of facts, and there are some great ones about the life of a lord in the Middle Ages:

Medieval lords swore allegiance to the king in exchange for land. This was known as feudalism.The life of a lord involved managing their estate. Sometimes this included towns and villages.However, many medieval lords left the peasantry to manage themselves and the day to day affairs, such as settling disputes or making small decisions.Lords garnered income from taxes and rents they took from the people who lived on their land.In times of war, medieval lords were expected to support the king. They’d provide money, soldiers and any other materials needed, like food.To become a lord, a person had to earn the trust of the king. This may have happened in battle as a knight, and gradually, they rose through the ranks.Medieval lords tended to live in a manor or castle, generally at the heart of their estate. The scale of their home often reflected the lord’s wealth and position in society. ContentsWhat Was A Medieval Lord?What Were The Rights and Responsibilities Of Lords?The Hierarchy Of Lords In The Middle AgesWhat Role Did Lords Play In Medieval Times?Medieval Lords: A Real-Life Case StudyWhere Did Medieval Lords Live?What Was Life Like For A Lord?What Did Lords Do In Medieval Times?What Did Medieval Lords Wear?What Did Medieval Ladies Wear?Learn More About LordsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) On Medieval Lords What Was A Medieval Lord?

The title of ‘lord’ was more of an umbrella term for a number of different classes of noblemen during the medieval period. Top of the roster was the king. Then you had dukes, counts, barons, and lastly, knights.

The System Of Feudalism

Knights lived in something known as the feudal system. It was a way of structuring society which saw knights act as landowners and paid taxes to their king, as well as serving them when war beckoned. Under this system, knights became lords and those who lived and worked on their land became their subjects. In effect, they had fiefs, or mini kingdoms which centred around the manor of the lord. This was known as a feudal society. 

Feudalism spawned into being in or around the 8th Century and flourished in Britain and Europe under William, Duke of Normandy, after he was victorious in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Feudalist societies then spready to France and Eastern Europe until it finally saw its end in or around the 1850s.

What Were The Rights and Responsibilities Of Lords?

We’ll dive into the rights and responsibilities of lords in greater depth as we move through this guide, but here I thought it’d be a useful spot to give you an overview of their functions and roles:

Rights of LordsLand Ownership: Lords were granted large estates (fiefs) by their overlords in exchange for loyalty and service.Tax Collection: They could collect rents, taxes, and fees from peasants working their land.Judicial Authority: Lords held the right to preside over local courts, resolving disputes and administering justice within their domain.Military Service from Vassals: Lords could call upon their vassals to provide knights and soldiers when needed.Hunting Rights: Exclusive rights to hunt in designated areas within their lands, reinforcing their social status.Control of Labor: They had authority over the peasants and serfs, who owed them labor or services in exchange for protection and land use.Responsibilities of LordsProtection of Subjects: Lords were responsible for the safety of peasants, defending them from external threats.Loyalty to Overlords: They owed allegiance and military service to the king or higher lord who granted them their fief.Maintenance of Order: Ensured peace, law enforcement, and fair treatment within their territories.Economic Stewardship: Managed estates to ensure productivity, providing for the welfare of their household and dependents.Religious Duties: Supported the Church by funding local parishes, monasteries, or chapels.The Hierarchy Of Lords In The Middle Ages

Not all lords were born equal in the Middle Ages. There was a hierarchy, and in some cases even peasants could work their way up the ladder onto this. For example, if a peasant managed to capture a wealthy knight and ransomed him off, he could buy his way into positions of influence.

To give you an idea of the structure of things, here’s a hierarchy that was common in medieval times:

King/Queen: The highest authority, ruling over a kingdom.Prince/Princess: Often the children of the king, with significant lands and influence.Duke/Duchess: Ruling over a duchy, a large area often equivalent to a modern province.Marquess/Marchioness: Governing border territories known as marches, crucial for defense.Earl/Count/Countess: Overseeing a county, responsible for local governance and justice.Viscount/Viscountess: Serving as deputies to earls or counts, managing parts of a county.Baron/Baroness: Controlling smaller estates, answering directly to higher nobles or the king.

Pretty much everything below prince/princess was classed as a “lord”.

What Role Did Lords Play In Medieval Times?

The medieval lord was a powerful figure in the Middle Ages. In exchange for swearing allegiance to the king, they were granted lands and ruled over small villages or towns. Medieval lords collectively held a lot of power over their king, and in the past, have ousted some.

Lords in medieval times ran their own estate, which was land leased by the monarchy. This could’ve been a smallholding or as large as a town. They also served as knights to the king and could muster a force to support his wars. Peasants of the Middle Ages paid their lords in taxes, both in money and food.

The lord also acted as arbiter in disputes between peasants and others residing on their land, though as we saw in my article on peasants, it was they who tended to carry out most of these administrative affairs which medieval lords deemed boring.

It was the role of the medieval lord to monitor harvests and supplies, manage finances such as taxes, rents, and dues. If he was pretty shite at doing any of this, there was a chance the king could confiscate his land. But as we saw above with Richard II, it wasn’t so easy for the king to exert his influence over these barons who enjoyed almost unlimited power over their fiefs.

With coin flowing and coffers swelling, medieval lords began to spend more on artistic pursuits, such as music, paintings, and literature. They sought more types of entertainment too, hiring jesters, minstrels, acrobats, actors, and dancers.

Medieval Lords: A Real-Life Case Study

To gain an insight into the role and life of a lord in the Middle Ages we’ll first take a look at the reign of King Richard II, otherwise known as Richard the Tyrant. From there we’ll turn our focus to the world of barons, the individuals who held almost unlimited power over the land granted to them by the king.

In the process of doing so, we’ll gain a deeper insight into the role that medieval lords played in society, and hopefully, it’ll help spark some ideas for some of your own fantasy writing.

King Richard II And His Problem With Lords

Richard II was crowned in 1367 at the age of just 10 and reigned until 1400. Four years into his rule he had to deal with a peasant revolt, which I discussed a few weeks ago. In classic tyrannical fashion, he pardoned all of the peasants involved because of his ‘abhorrence for the shedding of civil blood.’

Medieval Lords and King Richard II

After this, he took a rather unconscionable step in seeking to end the expensive war with France which was crippling England’s taxpayers, i.e. the poor. And this was the thing that annoyed his subjects the most. Well, the subjects which held power: the medieval lords and barons. They hated everything about him, from his wife to his policy of peace with France.

See, war was the main way the medieval lord made his money. As we’ll learn in more detail below, the barons had total control over the levels of taxation they could set for those residing on their land. And war meant higher taxes, an excuse to plunder the limited wealth of the peasants they were charged to look after.

In response, a handful of barons overthrew Richard, but it lasted mere days until he regained power. Instead of executing his rebellious barons, he exiled them, one of whom was Henry IV. Years later Henry returned from exile, threw Richard into gaol, and seized the throne for himself.

Henry ordered the chroniclers—the monks and writers who recorded the histories of the time—to alter their texts to defame Richard. It sounds like something from Orwell’s 1984.

So the fact that Richard was a tyrant was a stupendous lie and shows the power and influence the medieval lords and barons had over the king that gave them their wealth.

Barons and Medieval Lords

So who were these powerful, rebellious barons?

The king owned all the land in the country. He did not sell it off, rather leased it. And the individuals who he leased it to were his barons. Another term for a medieval lord, a baron started off in a lowly role, such as knights, political advisers, or even ordinary individuals.

These were the people the King felt he could trust to maintain his land, look after those living on it, supply fighting men in times of war, and pay taxes and dues to the exchequer (the royal bank). These parcels of land were known as fiefs, and the barons held complete dominion and jurisdiction over them.

Medieval Lords Signing Magna CartaWhere Did Medieval Lords Live?

Barons lived in manors or castles—grandiose abodes at the heart of their estate. Living on the land with them were peasants and knights to who the barons gave up some of their land to.

These castles were fortified structures designed to protect the lord, his family, and his subjects from attacks. A prime example is the iconic Château de Chambord in France, built in the 16th century.

Earlier examples include Windsor Castle in England, initially built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and still in use today.

In Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle, although constructed in the 19th century, was inspired by medieval architecture and offers a glimpse into the grandeur of such residences.

Many lords lived in manors too, which you can see in the image below. These were large country houses surrounded by farmland. The manorial system was common in medieval England, with places like the manor of Wakefield, which encompassed a large estate and served as the administrative center. These residences were crucial in asserting the lord’s status and managing their lands and vassals.

Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire, one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England

What Was Life Like For A Lord?

Life for a medieval lord was a blend of privilege and responsibility. As we’ve seen above, they managed vast estates, overseeing agriculture, justice, and local governance.

Living in grand castles or manors, they enjoyed luxuries like feasts, hunting, and tournaments. However, their duties included defending their land and people, which required maintaining a private army and often engaging in warfare.

Lords also had to navigate complex feudal relationships, pledging loyalty to higher nobles or the king, while overseeing vassals and peasants. Their daily life involved balancing administrative tasks, social obligations, and ensuring the economic prosperity of their estates.

With such wealth, food was of no issue to the medieval lord. A baron was always served before everyone else. Their diets were rich in meat with all the hunting and slaying they were doing. They ate vegetables too, mostly peas, beans, and onions, and enjoyed top-quality bread. Medieval lords drank ale made of hops and mead made from fermented honey and enjoyed wines imported from southern Europe where grapes grew.

The way a baron ate varied depending on their wealth. Rich barons ate off plates and bowls of pewter, whereas poorer barons used wooden plates and bowls, or even day-old bread. Forks did not exist during the Middle Ages, though knives and spoons did. Most people ate with their fingers and washed their hands in something known as a finger bowl.

Medieval lords at a banquetWhat Did Lords Do In Medieval Times?

On a day to day basis, medieval lords spent their time managing their estate—settling disputes between those under their supervision, hosting other lords and barons for grand banquets in decadent halls, and doing a fair bit of hunting.

All in all, medieval lords had a pretty good life.

What Did Medieval Lords Wear?

Medieval lords wore the best money could buy. Velvets, furs, and silks of scarlet and purple, with gold embroidery. The law even reserved certain fabrics and colours for the nobility, which came about after peasants began to dress in more colourful and fashionable ways. This occurred after the Black Death, a killer disease of the Middle Ages, when demand for workers soared, empowering the peasants to negotiate better rates of pay with barons who were desperate for people to work the land.

As with lords and ladies in the UK today, the title of baron was a hereditary one. The children of medieval lords were educated by tutors in various languages, literature, history, law, and outdoor pursuits like horse riding, hunting, and hawking.

Medieval lords hunting deer with their hounds and peasantsWhat Did Medieval Ladies Wear?

Medieval ladies’ clothing was a reflection of their social status, regional customs, and the era’s fashion trends, combining practicality and elaborate design.

Their attire typically included multiple layers, starting with an undergarment called a chemise or shift, made of linen for comfort and hygiene. Over this, they wore a kirtle, a long, fitted gown that served as the primary dress. Wealthier women adorned their kirtles with embroidery or fine fabrics such as silk or velvet, while lower-ranking women used wool or rougher materials.

The outer layer, often a surcoat or gown, added warmth and status, featuring long sleeves and elaborate details. These gowns varied in style over time, ranging from simple cuts to opulent designs with flowing trains. For formal occasions, noblewomen might wear mantles or cloaks fastened with brooches, often lined with fur or richly dyed fabrics to showcase their wealth.

Accessories were also key to medieval fashion. Ladies wore belts or girdles around their waists, often adorned with metalwork or jewels. Head coverings were essential, ranging from simple veils to more elaborate wimples, hennins (cone-shaped hats), or coifs.

Jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, and brooches, further emphasized their social status, while their use of fine materials and detailed craftsmanship symbolized grace and refinement.

Learn More About Lords

Thank you for reading this guide on the life of a medieval lord. Below, you can find some other resources you may find useful.

Head here for a guide by Medieval Chronicles on the role of the baronHere’s another guide on the role of the medieval lordAnd here’s an interesting guide on what medieval lords ateFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) On Medieval Lords What were medieval landowners called?

Landowners in the Middle Ages were known as lords. They could have been knights, barons, counts or dukes. They leased their land to peasants, with estates encapsulating entire towns and villages.

What did medieval lords do all day?

They ran their estate when not fighting in wars. This involved settling disputes and judicial affairs amongst the people of their estate. They also hunted and hosted guests.

Did medieval lords fight?

Yes, many medieval lords were knights, castellans, counts or dukes so fought in the King’s wars. The medieval nobility was very much a warrior class that prided itself on fighting.

Thank you for reading this guide to the life of a lord in the Middle Ages

The post Everything You Need To Know About The Life Of A Medieval Lord appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.