The terms ‘knight’ and ‘vassal’ often arise in discussions about medieval feudalism, but they denote different roles within that system.
A knight was a specific type of warrior, usually of noble birth, who served a local lord as part of the feudal system. Knights were heavily armored and fought on horseback, often participating in battles and tournaments. Their primary responsibility was to provide military service and protection to their lord in exchange for land or titles.
On the other hand, a vassal refers more broadly to anyone who held land granted by a lord in exchange for certain obligations, which often included military service. Vassals could be knights, but they could also be lower-ranking nobles or even wealthy peasants. The key aspect of being a vassal was the feudal relationship—vassals provided service and loyalty to their lords in exchange for protection and land.
In essence, while all knights were vassals due to their obligations to a lord, not all vassals were knights. The distinction lies in the specific role of knights as mounted warriors and the broader category of vassals who had various roles within the feudal hierarchy.