Feudal System. 31 



cient right to hunt and fish freely over the territory of 

 the Mark. 



While in this way the freedom of the communal own- 

 ers was undermined, the institution of banforests had 

 nevertheless its value in that it led to forest protection, 

 restriction in forest use and restriction in clearing, all, to 

 be sure, merely for the benefit of the chase. Special ofiB- 

 cers to guard the rights of the king, forestarii, chosen 

 from the free and freedmen, and also superior ofiicers, 

 forestmasters, were instituted, to. adminster the chase 

 and enforce the restrictions which went with it. 



Gradually with the loss of property rights there came 

 also k change in the political rights of the markers or 

 commoners, the large barons interfering with their self- 

 government, assuming for themselves the position of 

 Obermarker, appointing the officials, issuing strict forest 

 ordinances to regulate the cutting of wood, and finally 

 the original right which every commoner had of supply- 

 ing himself with wood material, became dependent upon 

 permission in each case and his title to ownership became 

 doubtful. 



Undoubtedly also through the influence of Eoman in- 

 stitutions with which the Franks under their Merovin- 

 gian kings came into close contact, there arose that social 

 and political institution which became finally known as 

 the feudal system. By the grants of lands which the 

 Icings made out of their own estates to their kinsmen and 

 followers with the understanding that they would be 

 faithful and render service to their masters, a peculiar 

 relationship grew up, based on land tenure, the land so 

 granted being called a fief or feud, and the relationship 

 being called vassality or vassalage, denoting the personal 



