How did changes in the system of feudal land tenure affect the relationship between lords and vassals?

The result of changes in the system of feudal land tenure was the ladder structure of the landowning society. At the top of this staircase was the monarch, who distributed land to his vassals, who were one step below the overlord-king. They, in turn, distributed land to other feudal lords who were at the lower rung of the feudal ladder. The feudal staircase ended with a step of “single-shielded” knights who could no longer afford to have a vassal due to insufficient land.