A piece of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty under the feudal system.
From Old French 'fief,' derived from Frankish 'fehu' meaning 'cattle' or 'property.' The word reflects the Germanic origins of feudal land tenure, where wealth was originally measured in livestock.
A fief was more than just land—it was a complete social contract! The vassal didn't own the land outright but held it conditionally, and if he failed in his duties, the lord could take it back. This created a complex web of obligations that made medieval Europe function like a giant pyramid scheme, but with swords instead of money!
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