>Rulers, especially central rulers, care a GREAT deal about where the border is, and
>they would have it on all their maps. Local peasents can also care a great deal about
>who gets a piece of their harvest.
My opinion is that accurate borders will be of vital importance to peasants, and minimal importance to kings...
Imagine you're King Alf, ruler of a minor realm in Ralios. All you really care about is that Duke Bill, Duke Ben and Duke Brad are your loyal vassals.
Now imagine you're Duke Bill. Again, all you care about is that Lord Charlie, Lord Cuthbert and Baron Claude are *your* loyal vassals.
Go down a step further - you're Lord Charlie. You have five villages under your control. Do they pay their taxes on time and send troops when you call on them? If so, that's all you need to know.
Finally, you're Headman Derik. Your village is in the lands of Squire Charlie. You have a very clear idea of the boundaries of your land - down the Mill Stream until it reaches the white rock, then across the heathland to the old standing stone, then north to the Great Road, along that for two miles till it reaches the Five Acre Wood, then along the wood's southern edge until it meets the Mill Stream.
Now, on the other side of the Great Road is Headman David's land. He's also a subject of Lord Charlie, but you've had several feuds with him and don't get along at all well. Your neighbour on the other side of the Mill Stream, Headman Edward, is a good friend. You and he even cooperated to build the eponymous Mill, and share its output. However, Edward's village is ruled by a different lord - Lord Freddie. And Lord Freddie owes allegiance to Duke George, who's a vassal of King Henry... in other words, the Mill Stream is actually a national border. But virtually everybody either doesn't know that, or doesn't care...
Stephen
Powered by hypermail