The following is an essay written about our culture by a Weber State University student:
"Based on the belief that the Feudal government is the ideal government, this group of individuals believes that when modern governments fall—democracy, socialism, monarchy—the strong will remain standing. This political ideology fuels their everyday lifestyles in regards to physical training and dietary needs but as they are not organized fully under one definition of Modern Feudalism, there is not a set of practices upheld by the whole group. This is one of the reasons it can be defined as a subculture rather than a cult.
This group draws inspiration from the medieval system of government know as Feudalism. In feudalism land and properties are divided up by the ruling Kings and given to the Barons who then distribute land to the Knights. Unlike this old system, where loyalties are precariously divided where they interacted without laws or codes of war, in this Modern Feudalist culture the division of rank is used as a system of order for when all other governments fail. Those in the modern feudalist society have adopted this system of leadership so that they may retain order when there is no government ruling them as a whole. They prefer this system where they may have the option to declare their own lifestyle based on a simple fundamental belief: “Through Strength We Survive.”
The individual members of the group maintain normal lifestyles and work in various positions throughout society. Group members include the low class working citizen to the upper class politician. However, they do not adhere to societies general classifications. As with a traditional Feudal government, influenced by what was used in the medieval era, the members are divided into classes based on strength and leadership skills. The ranks are broken down into Kings/Queens, Barons/Baronesses, and Knights/Chevalière, with a High King and/or Queen over each individual congregation. Those who do not consider themselves Modern Feudalists, or ModFeuds, are considered “serfs”. ModFeuds do not discriminate based on gender, race, or sexual orientation. They believe that land, goods, and property will one day be divided up based on the ranks that are established. Since one’s rank is the most important faction amongst the ModFeuds, annual tournaments are held to determine status. The ModFeuds are highly educated in medieval weaponry and fighting. Most ModFeuds possess swords or other weapons that they carry on their person when conditions allow. Knowledge is not the only tool they have to call on during these fights; they continuously train their bodies as well as their minds to be the strongest. A member of the ModFeuds located in a Seattle Chapter described them as, “By a modern high school definition, we’re a mash between History Nerds and Super Jocks.” These tournaments are held in a similar fashion as those were in the middle Ages amongst the Knights and Nobility. In these competitions everyone must compete to maintain their ranking or to advance to a higher one.
This lifestyle has spread world-wide in a little over a year with the major concentrations being located in the Seattle, Washington area, and spread throughout the southern areas of Canada. There is a surprising concentration in the French speaking province of Quebec. Some believe that this is due mainly in part to influence from their ancestry, though this is mostly hearsay. Unofficial numbers put the growing population of ModFeuds at 20,000 within their first year. Because each community of ModFeuds has established their own outlines it is hard to draw a mass number of them under one banner. National and world-wide communication lies mainly in online blogs and forums. Of the main sites, The Modern Feudalists, at http://modernfeudalism.blogspot.com/, is one of the few concerned about the overall impact. They keep thorough records of any media or news related articles. Modern Feudalists can be distinguished in everyday society by the rank badges that or sew onto the capes that are worn, or in circumstances that prevent their traditional garb they always don pins or necklaces with small rank insignias on them . These are worn as a symbol of unity to their cause but also as a courtesy to other members. For example, in this way Knights/Chevalière is aware of their place when speaking to a Baron or Baroness and so forth up the ranks. There haven’t been a great number of media attentions apart from the occasional article about a tournament being held in local cities. This is perhaps because ModFeuds consider themselves to be a very patient organization. They have established this system as a protection for when other systems fail however they are not interested in forcing the coming of that event. Out of a chapter in Tennessee—at the first tournament held east of the Mississippi—a young Chevalière summed up the general purpose and practice of being a Modern Feudalist. She told reporters, “I feel unified and protected in a way where I know that the government won’t come after us or prosecute us because we aren’t doing anything. It lifts a great burden from my shoulders knowing that I don’t have to worry about stock market crashes, or political campaigns because it no longer applies to me. I determine my own destiny by the strength of my sword.” "
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