Who was above and below the monks in the medieval hierarchy?

Answer 1

Monks were totally outside the hierarchy of medieval society, which consisted of the King, the nobles, the Lords, and the peasants. Monks could actually come from any of these classes, although, in practice, the choir monks usually came from the families of the Lords and the nobles, and the claustral monks normally came from the peasants. But, once in a monastery, outside of the Abbot, you were totally isolated from the hierarchical system.

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Thus the abbot, and anyone appointed by him, such as the prior, subprior, etc. would be above the monks, and the novices would be below him. Beyond that monks were strictly ordered along the date of their entrance, according to the Rule of St. Benedict, which has been in force since the sixth century and still rules most monasteries to this day.