Japan plunged into the age of warring feudal lords. Aristocratic status can involve feudal or legal privileges. The kingdoms were ruled via a feudal system. Such castles were beyond the means of feudal barons. In contrast to European feudal knights, samurai were not landowners. The manors were large holdings with the work done by feudal peasant farmers. The "peones" were peasants who went to battle in service of their feudal lord. Slave states had developed into feudal societies. The barons seized L'Aquila and appealed to the Pope for assistance as their feudal overlord. An is a type of Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Armies of the period could be formed from either feudal or mercenary forces. There are no private courts (i.e.&colon; feudal or manorial courts) in Mexico. Skills relating to espionage and assassination were highly useful to warring factions in feudal Japan. It was used by the "samurai" of ancient and feudal Japan. These baronies could be sold freely until 1789 when feudal law was abolished.