Social stratification

The organization of the new society was founded on the status of personal vassalage. First in the hierarchy of the principality were the crusaders of the conquest, namely the prince (primus inter pares) and the barons who were liege lords (ligii) and had the right to mint coins, administer justice and build castles. A series of inferior feudal lords followed in the hierarchy, such as the people of plain vassalage (homines plani homagii). This category included the Byzantine rulers - in exchange for the military service and fealty to the Franks - and the sergeants. The wives of the liege lords occupied a very important position. They inherited properties and offices and participated in the governing of the barony. When their husbands were absent, they replaced them and they were guardians to their minor children. In any event, however, their role was determined by the male-dominated society.

Another category was that of the inhabitants of cities (burgenses), who, apart from merchants, were often landowners. The lower social stratum was made up of the rural population (paroikoi, villeins and free peasants), whose situation did not change much. These people continued to pay the acrosticon and other contributions, as these had been already determined since the Byzantine period. 14th-century Angevin documents provide a clear picture of the structure of the fief, the responsibilities of the peasants vis-a-vis their lord, as well as the general social-economic situation in the principality.