Legal Definitions - delantal

Delantal is a historical legal term referring to land held by a tenant that was situated outside the immediate demesne (the lord's personal estate or home farm) of a feudal lord. This land was typically subject to customary services, rents, or other obligations owed by the tenant to the lord, rather than being directly managed by the lord for his own use. It was often contrasted with "inland," which was the lord's directly controlled and cultivated land.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: The Village Common Pasture
  Imagine a medieval village where the lord of the manor owned vast tracts of land. While some fields were directly cultivated for the lord's benefit (his "inland"), there was also a large, less fertile area on the outskirts of the village used by the villagers to graze their livestock. Each villager had a customary right to use this pasture in exchange for a small annual payment or a few days of labor on the lord's fields.

  Explanation: This common pasture would be considered delantal because it was not part of the lord's directly managed estate but was held by the tenants (the villagers) for their use, subject to customary obligations.

• Example 2: A Remote Farmstead
  A knight was granted a small, isolated farmstead several miles from the main castle and its surrounding fertile fields. This farmstead, along with its associated lands, was given to him in return for his military service and an annual tribute of grain. The lord did not directly oversee the farming operations on this remote plot.

  Explanation: The remote farmstead and its lands represent delantal because they were distinct from the lord's core demesne, held by a tenant (the knight) under specific conditions of service and tribute, rather than being directly exploited by the lord.

• Example 3: Forested Outlands for Timber
  In a large feudal estate, the central, most productive lands were dedicated to agriculture directly managed by the lord. However, there were also extensive forested areas on the periphery of the estate. Local villagers were permitted to harvest timber and gather firewood from these forests, provided they paid a specific fee to the lord and contributed labor to maintain the forest paths.

  Explanation: These forested outlands would be classified as delantal. They were not part of the lord's immediate, directly managed property but were held and utilized by tenants (the villagers) under customary rights and obligations, distinct from the lord's personal demesne.