Legal Definitions - black ward

The term black ward is a historical legal concept from feudal times.

It refers to a subvassal, meaning an individual who held land or owed loyalty and service not directly to the king, but to another lord who was himself a vassal of the king. In essence, a black ward was a "vassal of the king's vassal," forming a link in the chain of fealty and landholding that characterized medieval society.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• A Knight's Fief: Imagine Sir Kaelen, a knight, who has been granted a small parcel of land (a fief) by Baron Thorne. Baron Thorne, in turn, holds his extensive barony directly from the King, to whom he owes his primary loyalty and military service. Sir Kaelen would be considered a black ward because his direct allegiance and service are owed to Baron Thorne, who then fulfills his own obligations to the King.
• Lord of a Manor: Consider Lady Isolde, who governs a specific manor and its surrounding villages. She has pledged her fealty and provides military support to Duke Alaric, a powerful noble who holds his duchy directly from the King. Lady Isolde is a black ward because she is a vassal to Duke Alaric, who is himself a direct vassal of the King.
• A Minor Noble's Holdings: Suppose Lord Gareth controls a small castle and its surrounding villages. He has sworn an oath of fealty and provides soldiers to the Earl of Pembroke, who holds his earldom directly from the crown. Lord Gareth is a black ward because he is a vassal of the Earl of Pembroke, who is a direct vassal of the King, creating a layered structure of loyalty and obligation.