Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c10.s2.83

c10.s2.83

Feudalism can be described "as a complete organization of society through the medium of land tenure, in which from the king down to the lowest landowner all are bound together by the obligation of service and defence; the lord to protect his vassal, the vassal to do service to his lord; the defence and service being based on and regulated by the nature and extent of the land held by the one or the other. In those states which have reached the territorial stage of development, the rights of defence and service are supplemented by the right of jurisdiction. The lord judges or defends his vassal; the vassal does suit as well as service to his lord. In states in which feudal government has reached its utmost growth, the political, financial, judicial, every branch of public administration is regulated as a mere shadow of a name.”¹²⁵ Thus feudalism had two aspects; one was the political and the other the economic. According to the former the tenant ruled his territories, enjoyed certain powers, and in return was bound to serve the lord; in his turn the lord was expected to protect his vassal. The economic aspect of feudalism consisted in the fact that the vassal’s position and power were closely related to the extent of land he held.