Legal Definitions - accidentalia feudi

accidentalia feudi refers to the non-essential, supplementary conditions or stipulations included in a feudal contract. These were additional terms that, while part of the agreement, were not fundamental to the basic grant of land (the fief) or the core obligations between a lord and a vassal. The feudal relationship and the land grant would still be valid even if these specific "accidental" terms were not present. They represent the customizable, optional details added to the standard framework of a feudal agreement.

• Example 1: Specific Service Obligation
  Imagine a feudal lord grants a parcel of land to a knight. The essential terms would involve the knight pledging loyalty and military service in exchange for the land. An accidentalia feudi might be an additional clause stating, "The knight shall also be responsible for feeding and training the lord's pack of hunting hounds." While this is a duty the knight must perform, the fundamental grant of land and the knight's core military obligations would remain even if this specific duty regarding the hounds were omitted from the contract. The hunting hound duty is an extra, non-essential condition.

• Example 2: Specific Tribute in Kind
  Consider a peasant family granted the right to farm a plot of land by a local baron. The core agreement would be the right to cultivate the land in exchange for a portion of their harvest and labor. An accidentalia feudi could be a specific requirement like, "In addition to the standard grain tribute, the family must deliver ten bushels of ripe berries to the baron's kitchen every summer." The right to farm the land and the general obligation to provide tribute are essential, but this particular requirement for berries is an extra, non-fundamental condition that could be removed without invalidating the land grant.

• Example 3: Maintenance of a Specific Structure
  A lord might grant a village community a large tract of land. The essential terms would cover the community's collective duties, such as providing labor for the lord's fields and contributing to his defense. An accidentalia feudi could be a clause mandating, "The villagers are also responsible for the annual repair and upkeep of the wooden bridge crossing the main river on the lord's estate." While important for the lord, this specific maintenance task is an additional stipulation, not a core element without which the land grant itself would fail. The bridge maintenance is an "accidental" term because it's supplementary to the primary agreement.