Structures féodales et féodalisme dans l’Occident méditerranean (Xe-XIIIe siècles). Paris: CNRS,
1980.
FIEF-RENTE
. Fiefs-rente, or money fiefs (Lat. feudum de bursa), were created when a lord (usually
the king) granted a lump sum of money or designated revenues instead of land in
exchange for fealty, homage, and military service. It was a central institution in what has
been called “bastard feudalism,” existing in a period of transition between predominantly
feudal (land-based) military systems and predominantly mercenary ones.
Although in theory identical to a landed fief, fiefsrente tended not to be heritable, were
not subinfeudated, nor did they owe feudal aides and incidents. The essentially
mercenary character of fiefs-rente is indicated by the fact that their recipients received not
only the lump sum, but daily wages on campaign. Subtract fealty and homage from a fief-
rente and the result is an indenture contract, widely used, especially by the English, to
raise troops in the Hundred Years’ War.
The use of fiefs-rente peaked in the 13th century. Philip II Augustus, having extended
royal financial resources, began competing with Richard I and John of England for a
limited pool of mercenaries. The use of fiefs-rente shot up on both sides as the kings
attempted to secure the loyalty of mercenary troops with bonds of homage and fealty.
Their use died out when money and its institutions became common enough that homage
and fealty were no longer necessary to ensure a contract.
Stephen Morillo
[See also: ABRÈGEMENT DU FIEF; FEUDALISM; FIEF/FEUDUM; FIEF
HOLDING; INVESTITURE (FEUDAL)]
Lyon, Bryce D. “The Feudal Antecedent of the Indenture System.” Speculum 29(1954):503–11.
——. From Fief to Indenture. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1957.
FIERABRAS
. An anonymous chanson de geste of the King Cycle relating the story of the winning of
the Passion relics housed at Saint-Denis. Composed in 6,219 Alexandrines at the end of
the 12th century, Fierabras shows the beginnings of the decomposition of epic narrative
into romantic fantasy, in which locality, place, and action become blurred due to the
author’s propensity to make light of everything, even cruelty and religious earnestness.
Three years before the Battle of Roncevaux, the emir Balan retires with his army to
Spain after ransacking Rome and carrying away the treasure of St. Peter. Charlemagne
and his army follow. A series of battles culminates in a lonely duel between Oliver and
Balan’s giant son, Fierabras, who meets defeat and converts to Christianity, while Oliver
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