Buying land in Feudal Society

[Black Leviathan]

I'd say that land is of highly arbitrary value.

If you're an ordinary guildmeister hoping to escape taxation by buying your own fief with your opulent wealth, You can purchase title and rule over the King's land. For all of the chests of money you spend you likely won't be able to transfer your title to your heir.

If you want to purchase the land outright from a King the price is likely measured in galleons of gold. But the land is yours alone, no tithes to lords above you, free to pass on to your eldest son. Until the King wants his land back and marches troops in to take it by force, likely ironically when you die before your heir gets comfy on the throne.

Your price for land could be twice what someone else's is or half depending on weather or not a King would want you for a neighbor

If your king is at war and you can probably march 2000 troops in from a neighboring kingdom, and ask to be given land and title for no money, not even having to lead or pay for those soldiers.

If you're a King and a nearby king owes you money, or wants your son to marry his daughter or just wants your army to leave him alone he probably has some very big stretches of land he'll just sign over to you. There are probably large islands that just pass back and forth constantly like pocket change.

[Celjabba]

I am not trying to be unhelpful, but "Feodal" is rather meaningless without a date and location.

Does your setting resemble England, France, Germany, Japan, Eastern or Southern Europe ?

Land availability and fertility will have a huge impact on properties size and price.

Is the setting closer to X or XII century ? Or later?

[AlexanderHowl]

Well, the wealth of a society depends on a lot of factors. I generally use the following assumptions:

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 8/Status 8 household requires the support of ten million lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 8/Status 8 household is $60 per month per lesser household.

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 7/Status 7 household requires the support of two million lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 7/Status 7 household is $30 per month per lesser household.

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 6/Status 6 household requires the support of four hundred thousand lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 6/Status 6 household is $15 per month per lesser household.

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 5/Status 5 household requires the support of eighty thousand lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 5/Status 5 household is $7.5 per month per lesser household.

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 4/Status 4 household requires the support of sixteen thousand lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 4/Status 4 household is $3.75 per month per lesser household.

If we assume that a Feudal Rank 3/Status 3 household requires the support of thirty-two hundred lesser households, the cost to support a Feudal Rank 3/Status 3 household is $3.75 per month per lesser household.

The total cost of such a social structure would $120 per month per household, which would be reflected in the fees and taxes of a society, primarily paid by the people at Status-1, Status 0, and Status +1 (roughly 20% of the CoL paid by the households).

Now, this depends on the feudal structure of the society. A feudal society without a Feudal Rank 8/Status 8 household would be capable of supporting the society on half as many lesser households. A feudal society without any Feudal Rank 7-8/Status 7-8 households would be capable of supporting the feudal structure on a quarter as many lesser households. A feudal society without any Feudal Rank 6-8/Status 6-8 households would be capable of supporting the feudal structure on an eighth as many lesser households.

[smurf]

Things to consider regards to value are:

• Accessibility (road or waterway)
• Drainage
• Water Supply
• Levelled
• Dwelling (either usable or in need of repair)

If the idea is to grow wheat then accessibility to a Miller would help. To use a pasture may be import for farrow but pasture land was usually common land.

Ownership may be difficult for some. A Tithed cottage may mean the occupants work for an agreed price for the Land Owner (say 4/5th of the time and 1/5th for themselves).

Having Cows may help the income through diary production. Being good friends with neighbours will help gain access to a team of Oxen to pull an Iron Plough.

Just a few things of consideration.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

There was a silver strike toward the middle of Medieval times, I forget the date. But it was largely responsible for changing the economy as many vassals preferred paying in cash to goods and services. Peasants wanted to work their own land, knights wanted to stay home and manage it, and kings were just as happy as they found mercs more dependable.

To a point. The kings of England always preferred scutage to be paid in cash, but many of their vassals preferred to pay in service, because it came out cheaper (and there was the possibility of profit from loot).

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Rupert

To a point. The kings of England always preferred scutage to be paid in cash, but many of their vassals preferred to pay in service, because it came out cheaper (and there was the possibility of profit from loot).

True but even then many of those inclined toward warfare were inclined to contract to their king's as free companies rather than under the old system. Cash was so flexible that the main reason it wasn't used as much before was that there was less of it. There was always some of course; in the early middle ages kings were expected to potlach with a flourish. But even then it was often done in kind.