Originally published in English in 1976, this book shed new light upon a dark aspect of a dark age in the social history of Europe. The book discusses and makes clear the differences between the feudal and ‘seigneurial’ organisation of society that developed with the disintegration of the State which followed the enormous enlargement of the Empire under Charlemagne. The author bases his analysis mainly upon the French experience but draws his evidence from England, Germany, Italy and Spain. Lucid and enlightening, this book will be of interest to students of medieval history.