What is fielty?

Fielty is a medieval concept that refers to the loyalty of a vassal to his lord or king. It was a legal and moral obligation for a vassal to be faithful to his lord, to defend him in battle, and to provide him with counsel and advice, as well as financial and military support. Fielty was established through a formal agreement between the lord and the vassal, known as a feudal contract. This contract defined the terms of the vassal's duties, the conditions under which the lord would provide protection and support, and the penalties for breach of contract. Fielty was a central component of medieval feudal society, and it helped to define the social hierarchy of the time.