Legal Definitions - devoir

Devoir is an archaic legal term that refers to a duty, an obligation, or a tax. Historically, it encompassed various forms of payments, services, or responsibilities owed by individuals or entities, often to a sovereign, a lord, or the state.

• Example 1: In a medieval kingdom, a royal decree might have stipulated that all landowners were required to contribute a certain amount of grain annually to the king's granary to support the military. This mandatory contribution of grain would have been considered a devoir.

  Explanation: This illustrates devoir as a form of tax or compulsory payment in kind, imposed by a governing authority for a public purpose.

• Example 2: Under a feudal arrangement, a vassal might have been bound by an agreement to provide military service to their lord for a specific number of days each year, or to send a certain number of armed men to battle when called upon. This obligation of military service was a significant devoir.

  Explanation: Here, devoir represents a non-monetary duty or service owed as part of a legal and social contract, highlighting the "duty" aspect of the term.

• Example 3: Imagine a historical trading town where merchants importing goods through the port were required to pay a specific fee for the upkeep of the docks and warehouses, separate from general customs duties. This particular charge, essential for conducting their business, could be referred to as a devoir.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates devoir as a specific, mandatory levy or charge for the use of infrastructure or services, reinforcing its meaning as a type of tax or obligation.