Legal Definitions - hereyeld

Hereyeld (pronounced HEER-yeld) is a historical term from the feudal system, referring to a specific type of payment made upon the death of a vassal.

In essence, when a vassal (a person who held land from a lord in exchange for homage and allegiance) died, their best animal—often a horse, ox, or cow—was given as a tribute or payment to their superior lord. This practice ensured that the lord received a valuable asset from the deceased vassal's estate, reflecting the ongoing hierarchical relationship even after the vassal's passing.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of hereyeld:

• Imagine a medieval farmer, Thomas, who holds a plot of land from his local baron. Thomas works hard, and his most prized possession is a strong, healthy plow horse named Bramble, essential for his farming. When Thomas passes away, according to the feudal customs of the time, Bramble would be taken by the baron as the hereyeld. This demonstrates the term because Bramble, as Thomas's best animal, is rendered to his superior lord upon Thomas's death as a traditional tribute.

• Consider a small village within a lord's domain. One of the villagers, Elara, is known for her exceptional dairy cow, Daisy, which provides milk for her family and extra to sell. Elara is a vassal to the lord of the manor. Upon Elara's death, her family would be obligated to surrender Daisy to the lord as the hereyeld. This illustrates the concept as Daisy, being Elara's most valuable animal asset, is transferred to the lord as a customary death duty, reinforcing the lord's authority and economic rights over his vassals.

• In a more martial context, a knight, Sir Kael, serves a powerful duke and holds a small estate in exchange for military service. Sir Kael owns several horses, but his warhorse, Thunderhoof, is by far the finest and most valuable. When Sir Kael falls in battle, his family must present Thunderhoof to the duke as the hereyeld. This example shows how even a knight's most prized and useful animal, representing significant value and utility, would be claimed by their superior lord upon their demise as a traditional feudal obligation.