Placed in the last ring of the medieval feudal system were the commoners, also known as peasants. They had neither independent rights nor properties in the olden times.
Most of the peasants toiled hard in the fields or worked for a manor to earn their livelihood. They were subjected to a difficult and rough lifestyle, and due to this some of them often revolted against their owners or masters.
However, not all the peasants suffered such harsh living conditions and enjoyed a few moments of respite. The historians who studied the medieval era had divided the peasant class into three specific categories namely; slaves, freemen, and serfs.
Each category had some similar points and some diverse features. Some were more underprivileged, while others got some free time.
The Slaves
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The peasant slaves during the medieval period were one of the most mistreated population. The wealthy lords, earls, and knights treated them as mere properties. The slaves could be even bought and sold by rich masters.
They toiled hard for their masters and still, they enjoyed no freedom and could not even reap the fruits of their hard labour. Slaves, as well as serfs, could marry only if their landlord gave them the permission.
The Serfs
Serfs were also mistreated but not as poorly as the slaves. The serfs also had very little freedom and they also required express permission from their masters to travel. However, if they escaped their masters and ran away, they could get free after a year in hiding.
After that one year period, they could become freemen. Small vendors and shopkeepers were often serfs who went into hiding and became freemen. Serfs could not be sold or bought like some goods. However, their landlord owned the serf’s fields and also their harvests.
Some serfs were required to plough or work in their master’s farmlands. It was the medieval law that serfs had to harvest and gather their masters’ crops and fields. Some serfs also took on jobs other than working in the fields.
The Freemen
Freemen also fell into the peasant category, but they had the freedom to live their lives as they wanted and be their own masters. They were not obligated to any lord and didn’t have to work in any manor or castle like a slave or serf. They were actually free to travel and visit new lands whenever they wished.
The term ‘peasant’ was like a comprehensive word used to define the common or the ordinary people in the Dark Ages. Only the freemen could dream of having some joy in their existence during the Middle Ages. The peasants did all the menial work such as collecting firewood, stacking hay, and mowing the lands to name a few.
Some historians felt that in the medieval period, the serfs were seen as a land-attached commodity and could be sold along with their land.
The Options for a Serf
As a peasant, any serf could try to free himself and buy their ticket to freedom. They could also take up any occupation like become a farmer, tax collector, barber or blacksmith as per their lord’s wishes.
Most of the serfs being uneducated did not know how to free themselves, except to run away and escape. If they were successful in hiding their location and whereabouts for a period of one year, then they were free in the eyes of law and could return to their original place as freemen.
As freemen, they were not tied to a lord’s manor and could try and start a small business of their own without interference from any lords or masters.
Salient Points
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There are 3 known groups of peasants in the medieval times
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Slaves could be sold directly like a commodity
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Serfs could be sold with their land and not otherwise
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Serfs were clearly in a better position than slaves
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Freemen were in a better position than the serfs
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A serf enjoyed many rights than any slave and some could buy their freedom
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A serf could escape and get free
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A serf if caught before the period of one year could be gravely punished for running away.
The common layman had no power against the nobility as per medieval European history. These peasants or common folk were made to swear a promise of fealty to their immediate local landlord. Peasants were also forced to pay exorbitant taxes.
A tax known as Tithe meant that 10 percent of the yearly farm yield of every peasant class people had to be given to the church. The peasants had the option of giving payment in cash or kind to the holy church. Most peasants feared and hated this day when they had to pay Tithe.
The life of a common man or medieval peasant revolved around doing mundane and heavy tasks for his landlord or master that included harvesting, gathering crops, collecting firewood, mowing, stacking the hay, winnowing grains, etc.
