What do we know about peasants in Westeros? They are no thralls, but what else? What’s their legal status? What duties and rights do they have? Do they own the land they work on?

warsofasoiaf:

Unfortunately, we don’t know much. We do know that they have the right to move about, since Bloodraven can’t forbid them to leave their land if they never had that right on the first place. Hunting rights are restricted in certain areas, but mills suggest cutting rights (thanks @racefortheironthrone!) In the forests. There doesn’t appear to be restrictions on currency aside from suspicion if a poor-as-dirt turnip farmer starts throwing around gold dragons. Given that it’s feudalism, the peasantry probably rents the land as per feudal tenancy as opposed to owning the land outright. Given the degree of religious tolerance we see, there is probably no official prohibition on religion, though there is almost certainly social pressure to the Faith of the Seven in the south, and the Drowned God on the Iron Islands.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

If you want to know more, I wrote this essay.