<P> Because feudalism was in its origin a Teutonic or Gothic system from northern Europe untouched by Roman civilization, it did not exist in ancient Rome, where the nearest equivalent was clientelism . No classical Latin word therefore exists to signify it, and a new Low - Latin word feodum was invented by mediaeval European scribes to use in their Latinised charters and other writings . </P> <P> Under the English feudal system, the person of the king (asserting his allodial right) was the only absolute "owner" of land . All nobles, knights and other tenants, termed vassals, merely "held" land from the king, who was thus at the top of the "feudal pyramid". When feudal land grants were of indefinite or indeterminate duration, such grants were deemed freehold, while fixed term and non-hereditable grants were deemed non-freehold . However, even freehold fiefs were not unconditionally heritable--before inheriting, the heir had to pay a suitable feudal relief . </P> <P> Below the king in the feudal pyramid was a tenant - in - chief (generally in the form of a baron or knight) who was a vassal of the king, and holding from him in turn was a mesne tenant (generally a knight, sometimes a baron, including tenants - in - chief in their capacity as holders of other fiefs) who held when sub-enfeoffed by the tenant - in - chief . Below the mesne tenant further mesne tenants could hold from each other in series . The obligations and corresponding rights between lord and vassal concerning the fief form the basis of the feudal relationship . </P> <P> Before a lord could grant land (a fief) to a tenant, he had to make that person a vassal . This was done at a formal and symbolic ceremony called a commendation ceremony composed of the two - part act of homage and oath of fealty . During homage, the lord and vassal entered a contract in which the vassal promised to fight for the lord at his command, whilst the lord agreed to protect the vassal from external forces, a valuable right in a society without police and with only a rudimentary justice system . </P>

Who extended the system of feudalism in england