Author: Bishop Fulbert of Chartres was the bishop of Chartres from 1006 to 1028. He was a teacher at the Cathedral school there. Chartres is a commune in France, located about sixty miles southwest of Paris.
Context: Feudalism has allocated power within itself. The King is above all, and the other classes fall under the King. Some historians believe it is the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.
Summary: Bishop Fulbert writes a letter to Duke William of the Aquitanians. Fulbert states in his letter that anyone who swears loyal to his lord shall be granted these six things in memory: what is harmless, safe, honorable, useful, easy, and practical. Along with saying that, he says that the vassals shall not be injurious to him in his secrets. Also a vassal should always look to help his lord.
Key Quotations: “However, that the faithful vassal should avoid these injuries is proper, but not for this does he deserve his holding; for it is not sufficient to abstain from evil, unless what is good is done also.”
This document was written near the height of the Middle Ages and speaks to the culture of feudalism. Specifically, it addresses the social hierarchy system of homage and fealty that brought order during this period of decentralized rule. As a bishop, Fulbert addresses central ideas of Christianity from the Sermon on the Mount ("it is not sufficient to abstain from evil, unless what is good is done also") and describes the duty of the lords. This document also identifies some of the central tenets of chivalry.
ReplyDelete"He who swears fealty to his lord ought always to have these six things in memory: what is harmless, safe, honorable, useful, easy, practicable."