"The Song Of Roland" And "Magna Carta": Vassalage

Abstract: 8 pages in length. When one examines how the role of vassalage changes over time between "The Song of Roland" and the "Magna Carta," it becomes quite clear how there came a great need to modify the manner by which vassals were treated within the feudal system. In "The Song of Roland," a good vassal was one who laid down his life for his lord, if need be, without any second thought of how this position of servitude precluded him of a life of his own. Contrarily, those who went against the feudal system and defied their lords' behest were considered renegades and dealt with accordingly. It was this very oppressive action and complete absence of humanizing civilization that ultimately paved the way for a significant change in how vassals were both perceived and treated, inasmuch as the "Magna Carta" was written in response to the social and political abusiveness that erupted from the feudal system. No additional sources cited.

Filename: TLCRolnd.rtf

Pages: 8

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Catagory: England (Before 1700)

Subcatagory: Western Civilization

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