A land is called a fief in the Middle Ages.
Soldiers recieved a fief as a form of payment for their services during war time. Knights also recieved fiefs in midevil times for the same services. Even peasants recieved fiefs in payment for their loyaty to their Lord.
I am a great grandson of Juan Macapagal.The Lacandola of Arayat came from one of the grandchildren of Lakan Dula of Tondo named Dola, who is from San Luis, Pampanga. When she married, she insisted to use the surname Lacandola for her children to maintain connection with his grandfather from Tondo and partly, to hide from Spanish authorities. She has nine children and one of them married a Spanish mestizo surnamed Reyes. My grandfather used to tell me that we are the descendants of Dola, the grand daughter of Lakan Dula of Tondo. By the way, Dola, according to my grandfather, was jailed by the Spanish authority in her old age allegedly for helping wounded revolutionaries. Don Juan Macapagal, Datu of Arayat, was the great-grandson of the last ruling Lakan Dula (King) of Tondo, Don Carlos.[1] He was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660.[1] He further aided the Spanish crown in suppressing the Pangasinan Revolt of Don Andres Malong in the same year, and the Ilocano Revolt of 1661. Don Juan Macapagal died in 1683. Don Juan Macapagal is a direct ancestor of Philippine Revolutionary General, Lazaro Macapagal and two former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal and his daughter, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Don Juan Macapagal occupied the post of juez de sementeras of the town Arayat twice before becoming its governor five times in a row. He was also commissioned by the Spanish crown to conduct the supply of silver from Pangasinan through Zambales. Don Juan Macapagal started out as a corporal of a squad of native soldiers. He later rose to the rank of sargento capitan of the infantry. Fighting under Spanish captain Sebastian Castelu, Macapagal help pacify the northern frontiers of the province of Pampanga, which then extends all the way up north to Cagayan Valley. He was wounded during the suppression of the Chinese uprising in 1639 and in suppressing a minor Kapampangan uprising in 1641. In 1660, he was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660. Don Juan Macapagal was also one of the few natives of the Philippines to become an encomendero or a feudal lord under the Spanish crown.[1] In order to gain his support suppressing the Ilocano Revolt of 1661, the Spanish crown awarded him an encomienda or a fief that once belonged to ex-Governor General Don Diego Fajardo y Chacon. The fief was worth 500 ducados of tributes of Negritos from the province of Zambales. After the collapse of the Ilocano Revolt and the execution of 133 of its leaders, Macapagal further received the honor of becoming the Maestre de Campo of the Kapampangan Regiment that guarded Fort Santiago. Because of his outstanding career in the service of the Spanish crown, quite rare for a native of the Philippines during that era, the Spanish authorities decided to revive the special rights and privileges offered by the Spanish crown to Don Carlos Lacandola and all his descendants throughout the province of Pampanga. Don Juan Macapagal is a direct paternal ancestor of former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal the 9th president of the republic and his daughter, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
A Vassal takes a pledge of loyalty to the lord
Knights received land, often in the form of a fief, in exchange for their pledge of loyalty to a lord. This land provided them with a source of income and allowed them to support themselves and their families. In addition to land, knights were also granted protection and support from their lord in times of need.
It was in exchange for an oath of loyalty.
In French, the word "fief" refers to a feudal estate or property granted by a lord in exchange for services or loyalty. It can also refer to the rights and privileges associated with such a grant.
fief or feoff
A piece of land granted to a vassal in exchange for oaths of loyalty and support is called a fief. The ceremony at which this was done was called commendation.
Land held by a feudal lord was known as a "fief" or "feudal estate." This land was granted to the lord by the king or a higher-ranking noble in exchange for loyalty, military service, and other obligations. The lord could then grant smaller portions of the land to vassals in return for their loyalty and service.
The three Fs of the feudal system were "fiefs" (land granted by a lord in exchange for loyalty and service), "fealty" (the allegiance sworn by a vassal to a lord), and "feudalism" (the social, economic, and political system based on land ownership and the exchange of land for service).
Fief (land), Fealty (Loyalty), and Faith (religion).
A vassal received land and protection in exchange for military support, and sworn loyalty and obedience. A serf received land to use and protection in exchange for part of the crop or rent. This situation was very similar to, but not identical to, the situation of a vassal. There was a lot of variation in local customs. There were a few places, for instance, where there were no serfs and all farmers were independent; some of these were in Scandinavia, and there were others in Switzerland and Scotland.
managing the operation of the fief and pledging loyalty to the lord
A fief.