Das Lehnswesen in Deutschland im hohen und späten Mittelalter

Das Lehnswesen in Deutschland im hohen und späten Mittelalter was authored by the esteemed medievalist Karl-Heinz Spieß and published by Franz Steiner Verlag in 2002. It serves as a foundational academic resource examining the intricacies of the feudal system in German-speaking lands during the High and Late Middle Ages, a period characterized by complex social hierarchies and legal structures. The work was conceived to provide a comprehensive, scholarly overview of vassalage, land tenure, and the evolving political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, filling a gap for students and researchers requiring a structured synthesis of regional feudal practices.

The book is regarded for its analytical rigor and its contribution to the historiography of medieval constitutional law and social order. In crafting this text, Spieß drew upon decades of archival research to deconstruct the myths often associated with medieval feudalism, opting for a nuanced look at how service obligations and land grants actually functioned in practice. Upon its release, it was widely received within German academic circles as a standard reference, prized for its clarity and the depth of its source citations which continue to support ongoing research into medieval European history.