Legal Definitions - bordar

A bordar was a historical term used in medieval England to describe a specific type of tenant within the feudal system. Bordars held a small plot of land, typically a cottage with a garden or a few acres, from a lord in exchange for labor or services. Their legal and social status was generally considered less restrictive and more independent than that of a villein, who was more directly tied to the land and subject to more extensive and often more burdensome obligations to their lord. Bordars usually had fewer labor duties and enjoyed a degree of personal freedom that was greater than that of a villein.

• Example 1: Agricultural Services on a Manor

  Imagine a large manor estate in 12th-century England. While many tenants were villeins who owed several days of labor each week on the lord's fields, a bordar named Elara might live in a small cottage on the edge of the manor with a modest garden plot. Her obligations to the lord could be limited to perhaps one or two days of work per week, assisting with the harvest or maintaining fences, rather than the extensive, fixed labor services of a villein. This lighter burden allowed Elara more time to cultivate her own garden or engage in other small crafts for personal income, illustrating her less servile status.

• Example 2: Domesday Book Records

  When the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, it meticulously cataloged the population and resources of England. A typical entry for a village might read: "Here there are 15 villeins, 7 bordars, and 3 cottars." This record indicates that within that specific village, seven households were classified as bordars. These individuals held small parcels of land and owed services to the local lord, but their tenure was distinct from and generally less burdensome than that of the villeins, who formed the bulk of the agricultural workforce with more significant and often hereditary obligations.

• Example 3: Social Mobility and Obligations

  Consider a situation where a medieval lord needed to raise a small levy for a local defense. While villeins might be compelled to provide military service or a substantial payment, a bordar like Thomas might have more flexibility. His obligations might be limited to providing a small amount of produce or a minor service, rather than extensive labor or military duty. Furthermore, if Thomas wished to move to another manor, while still requiring the lord's permission, he might face fewer hurdles than a villein, whose movement was often severely restricted, highlighting the bordar's comparatively greater personal liberty and less entrenched servitude.