Why were there kings and queens in medieval times?
Kings and queens existed before medieval times, and may have been called chieftains, emperors or empresses. In medieval Europe, kings and queens provided protection from foreign invaders, leading to the development of the feudal system.InvasionsAfter the Roman Empire fell, invaders such as the Vandals infiltrated Western Europe. Local tribes–made up of farmers, herders and warriors–formed their own small kingdoms for protection.Kings and QueensThe role of king began as a warrior who led the tribe in battle. Kings and queens often married to form alliances between different kingdoms.ReligionMissionaries from Rome spread Christianity throughout Western Europe. Many of the converted kings pledged allegiance to the Catholic Church. The pope appointed kings to rule over large areas of land.FeudalismContinued invasions led to feudalism. Kings and queens divided their land among noble lords, who then gave land to their vassals. In exchange, the vassal, or knight, pledged his loyalty to the
