Knight-villein facts for kids
A knight-villein (called Cavaleiro-vilão in Portuguese and caballero villano in Spanish) was a special kind of free commoner in medieval Portugal, Castile, and Leon. These people were not part of the nobility, but they owned land, weapons, and a horse. This made them important horsemen who served their king.
Who Were Knight-Villeins?
Knight-villeins were the highest class of free commoners, just below the nobles. If a commoner owned enough property, they were expected to have a horse. This meant they were considered a knight-villein. For example, a town rule in Penela said that if someone had two pairs of oxen, ten sheep, two cows, and a good bed, they also had to get a horse!
Their Important Role
Knight-villeins provided military service directly to the king. Because of this, they received special benefits, much like minor nobles. For instance, they did not have to pay certain military taxes. Also, their word was trusted in court.
In medieval Portugal, many knight-villeins had to join fossados, which were raids into Muslim lands. They would go for a few weeks and share any captured treasures. If they didn't answer the call to fight during an invasion, they had to pay a fine.
These knight-villeins often organized their own raids into Muslim territories. They also settled in towns near the border in southern or eastern Portugal. This gave these towns a strong military feel. Between 1064 and 1147, much of the land taken from al-Andalus for Portugal was won by these knight-villeins and minor nobles.
See also
In Spanish: Caballero villano para niños
- Reconquista
- Kingdom of Portugal
- Portugal in the Middle Ages
- Military history of Portugal
- Kingdom of Castile
