|
Michigan Chapter Six Cadillac as Feudal Lord
But abuses crept into the system which in time grew to be intolerable. The peasants became the merest slaves, attached to the soil, and subject to the caprice, the ambition and the avarice of their overlords. The feudal aristocracy threatened the prerogatives of the king himself, and so, as a matter of political necessity, he was forced to assert his authority for the pro-tection of the royal domain. At the other end of the line the peasants were in a threatened state of unrest which culminated in the abolition of villenage. The increase of commerce and consequent opulence of merchants and artisans, and especially the institutions of free cities and boroughs, led to a gradual change in the constitution of society. So, while some of the forms of feudalism were still extant in France at the end of the seventeenth century, the substance had long since vanished. The power of the feudal nobles had been effectually curbed. They no longer overawed the king but had become the obsequious servants of Louis XIV. Very many of the abuses had been corrected, and the king took good care that none of them were sent
over to work mischief in the American colonies. Canadian feudalism was made to serve a double end, to produce a faint and harmless reflection of French aristocracy and simply and practically to supply agencies for distributing land among the settlers.
Louis saw to it that even the smallest remnant of power which the nobles of France still exercised was withheld from those of rank over seas. The seigniories were granted in every instance directly by the crown. The seignior was denied any voice whatever in the direction of the government. Neither had he any authority to exact military service from his vassal. The governor called out and controlled the militia, and the lord of the manor was as much subject to this service as the peasant. The seigniories were transferable and carried with them the faith and homage due from all their subordinates.
Michigan
Page 2
|
|
Please consider making a donation to help offset expenses to keep this site online.
Thank you
|
