The ceorles of Anglo-Saxon times lived in a largely free society, and one in which their fealty was principally to their king. Agriculture was largely community-based and communal in open-field systems. This freedom was eventually eroded by the increase in power of feudal lords and the manorial system. Some scholars argue however that anterior to the encroachment of the manorial system the ceorls owed various services and rents to local lords and powers.
The word ceorle in a corrupted form is frequently found in British place names, in towns such as Carlton and Charlton, meaning "the farm of the churls".
Search Encyclopedia
|
Featured Article
|