Social hierarchy in the Middle Ages
The three orders:
According to Ælfric (ca. 955–ca. 1010), a Benedictine monk who became the first abbot of
Eynsham:
“It is well known that in this world
There are three orders, set in unity:
These are laboratores, oratores, bellatores.∗
Laboratores are those who labor for our living;
Oratores are those who plead for our peace with God;
Bellatores are those who battle to protect our towns
And defend our land against an invading army.
Now the farmer works to provide our food,
And the worldly warrior must fight against our foes,
And the servant of God must always pray for us
And fight spiritually against invisible foes.”
Source:
www2.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/middleages/topic_1/aelfric.htm
“In the eleventh century, Bishop Adalbero of Laon wrote a poem to King Robert of France that
included the following lines: ‘Triple then is the house of God which is thought to be one: on
Earth, some pray, others fight, still others work; which three are joined together and may not be
torn asunder.’”
Source:
www.bookrags.com/history/medieval-europe-lifestyle-and-recreation/
Some pictures from the
original Recitus page on this topic:
