Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: CASATUS
Definition: A long time ago, there were people who owned land called casatas. The people who lived on these lands were called casatus. They were like tenants or renters, but they had to give some of what they produced to the person who owned the land.
Definition: Casatus (pronounced kuh-zay-tuhs) is a historical term used to describe a vassal or feudal tenant who owned a casata.
Example: In medieval Europe, a casatus was a person who held a casata, which was a small piece of land granted to them by a lord in exchange for their loyalty and service.
Explanation: The term casatus is derived from the Latin word "casata," which means "cottage" or "small house." A casatus was a person who owned a casata, which was typically a small plot of land with a simple dwelling on it. In feudal society, a casatus was a member of the lower nobility who owed allegiance to a lord in exchange for protection and the right to use the land. The example illustrates how the term was used in medieval Europe to describe a specific type of feudal tenant.