What kinds of things did nobles do in Medieval society?

Question

I need to know what sorts of things nobles did in Medieval society. I know that they owned land that was attached to the serfs who worked it, or that is to say I know how the feudal system works, but what did nobles do in their daily life.

I mean, it seems like they have their serfs doing all the work in exchange for protection and etc., but what exactly is involved in a nobles' job?

Also, what did they do in court? Was it just socializing and if so how did they go about it?

All of these answers have been very helpful (except the one about the huge meals, why'd you even bother answering).

There's still one aspect I'm curious about, though. What did they do when it comes to the politics side of being a noble. Surely they didn't handle all competing lords by just fighting them.

Also I'm talking more of the late Medieval period, when you had the big kings and they had more minor nobles. How did the minor nobles try to influence the king?

Answer 1

The noblemen stayed busy overseeing their properties (i.e. like a manager), traveling, participating in sports (hawking, jousting, hunting, etc) and socializing.

Nobles were also tutored at home so they spent a lot of time in learning, catechism etc.

If you had a large castle it was work to keep it in tip top shape and keep your fighting skills honed and knights well-trained.

Highborn ladies kept busy with supervising the household, socializing, performing works of charity and learning the fine arts like embroidery, music, poetry, etc. They also participated or were spectators at many sporting events and competitions.

Answer 2

Medieval Nobles

Answer 3

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What kinds of things did nobles do in Medieval society?
I need to know what sorts of things nobles did in Medieval society. I know that they owned land that was attached to the serfs who worked it, or that is to say I know how the feudal system works, but what did nobles do in their daily life.

I mean, it seems like they have their serfs doing all...

Answer 4

Nobles In The Middle Ages

Answer 5

Hey I just recently read a really good book about history of daily life it was focussed in history of women but I guess it may be helpful the nobles in that times the men mostly spend in war the holy and the common type, and the most wealthy used to be patrons for the arts Lorenzo il magnifico (medici) used to gather the most grat of writters and painters and intellectuals to chat, and of course the most common noble men spend their days in the hunt not just for fun but because just the noble men were able to do the hunt it was banned for commoners so they have to protect their towns in winter from wolfs and such... the noble woman usually was the administrator of the household and properties and also the womens did do embroidery and most important prayer the books of hours were a must have to the good society womans and besides remember that the beauty the sins of the flesh and such things were very bad in the medieval times just on the renaissance were more liberals about such subjects

Answer 6

Look for paintings of Royals from the Medieval times! You know, like before Henry VIII, so, any painting of a king from Henry VII backward. Such things can be found in libraries, art galleries, and online.

Answer 7

They had to manage the serfs. Do you think those beggars just willingly gave up their crop and paid their "tax"? The nobles also practiced the art of war. They needed to learn how to fight, ride, and protect themselves. They supervised the bulding of their castles and ensured the walls were secure. Some learned to read although this was generally reserved for the monks. They had to produce an heir. They had to be on constant guard against competing Lords.

Answer 8

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Some peasants were better off than others, and those who owned more land would have more substantial and bigger houses, and more possessions. Peasant houses that have been excavated have been found to contain items like pewt3r tableware, glazed pottery, board games like chess and draughts, and musical instruments. The peasant diet varied, better off peasants would have a more varied diet, more meat etc. Generally, grain was the basis of the peasant diet, in the form of bread, pottage (or porridge) and ale. The most common vegetables were beans and peas, which were often added to the bread and pottage for protein. Many peasants kept a cow, which would provide them with milk, cheese and butter, and they kept chickens to provide them with eggs. Nobles would have a more varied diet and would eat more elaborate dishes. Dinner was the main meal of the day, served between about 10 am and noon, and would consist of two or three courses, each with several choices of dish. Meat might be roasted or served in stews, and pies and fritters were also popular. On Fridays and other fast days fish would be eaten. Medieval people enjoyed highly spiced food and rich sauces, and meat and fish were often flavoured with spices like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Meat might also be mixed with other ingredients to make a kind of custard. A dish of this kind was blankmanger, consisting of a paste of chicken blended with rice boiled in almond milk, seasoned with sugar, cooked until very thick, and garnished withfried almonds and anise. Another was a mortrews, of fish or meat that was pounded, mixed with breadcrumbs, stock, and eggs,and poached, producimng a kind of quenelle, or dumpling. Fruit was always served cooked, raw fruit was considered unwholesome. Honey was the most common sweetener, but sugar was also used in noble households, it was very expensive. Games like hide and seek, tag, blindman' s buff etc would have been played by children, and also by adults. The nobles were subject to the authority of the king, and peasants were subject to their lords. Everyone in medieval society were subject to those above them, and owed obligations to those below them. The church was a central part of most people's lives. As well as going to Mass, confession etc, people would use the church for secular purposes like manor courts and guild meetings, and parties and pagenats were held in the churchyard. A general day for everyone would start and end much earlier than it would now. people were reliant on daylight mroe than we are, so they got up much earlier and went to bed much earlier. A general day would depend very mcuh on your occupation. If you were a peasant man of your jobs would be seasonal, ploughing, sowing, reaping etc. peasant women generally looked after the poultry and the dairy, milked the cows, made their own butter and cheese etc. They brewed the ale that most people drank instead of water. When they were not doing anything else, they would spin wool or flax into thread (spinning was a major occupation of women up until the Industrial Revolution). People working at a trade or craft would not work to set hours, but would do whatever needed to be done. Businesses tended to be family affairs, with wives and children also involved in the business. The lives of monks and nuns in monasteries would be governed by the hours of prayer, Lauds, Matins,Vespers etc. Inbetween they would work at various tasks,most monasteries had infirmaries for instance where the sick and the old were tended, and some kept schools where children were taught.

Answer 9

just to clarify ( i know it will nto help the questioner much) nobles in the midle ages did not eat good food. iam not sure whre all this information comes from. but in the middle ages, with there were very little spices available. and european cuisine was extremely bland..what sauses and seasonings could be made were eitehr herb or salt and rare and very precious peper which only the superwealthy could have

Answer 10

Nobles/lords protect the serfs and rule the manor