Legal Definitions - feudal law

Feudal law refers to the historical legal system that governed how land was owned, held, and transferred, predominantly in medieval England, especially following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Under this system, land was not typically owned outright but was "held" by individuals (known as tenants) from a superior lord in exchange for specific services, loyalty, or payments. This created a hierarchical structure of landholding, where obligations flowed both up and down the chain, linking land possession directly to social and political duties.

Here are some examples to illustrate feudal law:

• Imagine a powerful baron who has been granted a large estate by the King. This baron, in turn, grants a portion of his land to a skilled knight. In exchange for holding this land, the knight pledges to provide military service to the baron, bringing a specified number of armed men whenever the baron requires them for defense or warfare. This illustrates feudal law because the knight does not own the land absolutely; he holds it under a specific tenure (military service) from the baron, who himself holds it from the King. The land is inextricably linked to an obligation of service.

• Consider a village community living on a lord's manor. The villagers are granted the right to cultivate strips of land for their families and graze their animals in common fields. In return, they are obligated to work a certain number of days each week on the lord's personal farm (known as the demesne), provide a portion of their harvest as rent, and perform other tasks like repairing roads or fences. This demonstrates feudal law through the system of land tenure where the villagers hold their land not as absolute owners, but as tenants providing labor and produce to the lord, who is their superior in the landholding hierarchy.

• A King might grant a significant tract of land to a monastery. In return for this land, the monks are obligated to pray daily for the King's soul, the prosperity of the kingdom, and the success of his reign. This exemplifies feudal law because the monastery holds the land not through outright purchase or absolute ownership, but under a specific tenure (spiritual service) owed to the King. This highlights the diverse types of obligations—not just military or agricultural—that could be tied to landholding within the feudal system.