ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the development of Beaugency lordship. Medieval lordship was itinerant as most lords held several lordships and traveled among them to keep abreast of what was going on, but also as to avoid taxing the resources of one place for too long. The Beaugency family attained their power, lands and offices through their status as lords. At its heart, lordship was a relationship between a client and patron. In the Roman world, patrons might provide wealth or offices to clients to gain their political support. The Beaugencys were part of the political system as both lords and vassals. They received fiefs, or grants of land, from the counts of Anjou, Chartres and Vendome for which they were expected to provide military service and to serve at their lord's court for how the Beaugency lordship evolved. When the Beaugency family came to power in the eleventh century, France was under the leadership of the Capetian kings.
