How did a lord typically interact with a knight in the feudal system?

In the feudal system, a knight served as a vassal to a lord in a relationship defined by mutual obligations and land grants. The lord would grant land, often referred to as a fief, to the knight, who in return pledged loyalty and military service. This bond was formalized through a ceremony known as homage, where the knight swore an oath of fealty, committing to support and defend the lord. This system was crucial for maintaining the social and military structure of medieval society, as it established a hierarchy where lords provided land and protection and knights offered their service and loyalty in exchange. This mutual dependence was fundamental to the functioning of feudalism, emphasizing the importance of land ownership and loyalty in medieval society.

In contrast, knights did not typically negotiate land purchases; land was generally granted by lords. While knights had responsibilities towards serfs, their role was not to manage them independently without oversight. Additionally, tribute in the form of money or goods was not a standard practice for knights in exchange for protection; rather, protection was part of the obligations that came with the feudal relationship. Thus, the vassalage of knights to lords embodies the core dynamics of feudal interactions.