Who was a villein?

A villein was a peasant in the feudal system of medieval Europe, often bound to a lord's estate and subject to various obligations, including labor and rent. Unlike free peasants, villeins did not have full rights and were typically required to work a certain number of days each week for their lord. They could not leave the land without permission, and their status was inherited, often placing their descendants in the same condition. While villeins had some protections under the law, their lives were largely dictated by the needs and demands of the landowner.