Legal Definitions - hebote

Hebote (pronounced "HEH-boat") is a historical legal term referring to a specific type of feudal payment made to a lord upon the death of a tenant. This payment typically consisted of military equipment or arms, rather than money, livestock, or other goods.

In medieval feudal systems, tenants often held land from a lord in exchange for various services or payments. When a tenant died, a "death duty" known as a "heriot" was often due to the lord. Hebote was a particular form of heriot, specifically requiring the surrender of military gear, such as a sword, shield, or armor, to the lord. This practice helped ensure the lord maintained his military resources and control over his territory.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of hebote:

• Imagine a knight in medieval England who held a manor from a powerful baron. Upon the knight's death, his eldest son would inherit the land. However, before taking full possession, the baron would be entitled to claim the knight's finest suit of plate armor and his warhorse as hebote. This ensured the baron's personal military strength was maintained, even as the land passed to a new generation.

• Consider a skilled archer who was a tenant farmer on a lord's estate. This tenant was obligated to serve in the lord's militia when called upon. When the archer passed away, the lord of the manor would claim his best longbow and a quiver of arrows as hebote. This specific demand for military equipment distinguished it from other forms of heriot, which might have involved livestock or a portion of the harvest.

• Picture a common tenant who, in addition to farming his plot, was expected to provide basic military service as a foot soldier for his lord. When this tenant died, his lord might claim his sturdy shield and spear as hebote. This practice underscored the military aspect of the tenant's relationship with the lord, even for those of lower social standing.