Legal Definitions - de la plus belle

de la plus belle

This historical legal term, originating from Law French, literally translates to "of the most fair." It referred to a specific form of dower, which was a provision made for a widow from her deceased husband's estate. What made de la plus belle distinct was that the dower was assigned from the most valuable or best properties (known as tenements) owned by the husband.

This particular form of dower was primarily associated with military tenures, a system in medieval England where land was held in exchange for military service. The practice of de la plus belle was eventually abolished in England by the Tenures Abolition Act of 1660 (Statute 12 Car. 2, ch. 24).

Here are some examples illustrating how de la plus belle would have applied:

• Imagine Sir Kael, a knight in the 14th century, who held several parcels of land under military tenure. Upon his death, his widow, Lady Elara, was entitled to dower. If one of Sir Kael's holdings included a thriving mill and fertile fields, while another was a remote, less productive woodland, the principle of de la plus belle would dictate that Lady Elara's dower portion would be assigned from the more valuable property containing the mill and fertile fields. This ensured she received a share of the most advantageous part of her husband's estate.

• Consider Lord Beaumont, a wealthy baron who owned three distinct estates: a bustling port town, a productive agricultural manor, and a smaller, less developed hunting lodge. When Lord Beaumont passed away, his widow, Lady Isolde, would claim her dower. Under the custom of de la plus belle, the court would likely have allocated her dower rights from the port town, as it generated the highest income and was considered the most valuable of Lord Beaumont's holdings, providing her with the most substantial and secure provision for her widowhood.

• Suppose a landowner, Sir Julian, held an estate that included a valuable quarry, several modest farms, and a small fishing village. After Sir Julian's death, his widow, Lady Gwendolyn, sought her dower. Applying the rule of de la plus belle, her dower might have included a share of the income or direct access to the quarry, as it represented the most profitable and significant asset within the estate. This would have provided her with the most substantial support compared to a share from the less lucrative farms or fishing village.