Legal Definitions - libera eleemosyna

Libera eleemosyna is a Latin term that translates to "free alms." In medieval English law, it referred to a specific type of land tenure known as frankalmoin.

Under libera eleemosyna, land was granted by a lord or monarch to a religious institution, such as a monastery, abbey, or church. The unique characteristic of this tenure was that the "service" owed by the religious institution to the grantor was purely spiritual. Instead of military service, feudal duties, or monetary rent, the institution's obligation was to offer prayers, masses, or other religious observances for the soul of the grantor and their ancestors. This arrangement was considered a charitable donation, intended to secure spiritual benefits for the donor.

Here are some examples illustrating libera eleemosyna:

• Imagine a powerful baron in 12th-century England who grants a portion of his estate to a newly founded Benedictine monastery. In return for the land, the monks are bound to pray daily for the baron's soul, his family's salvation, and the prosperity of his lineage. The monastery owes no military service, no annual rent, and no other feudal obligations to the baron or his heirs. This arrangement exemplifies libera eleemosyna because the land is held solely in exchange for spiritual service.

• Consider a medieval king who, seeking divine favor and a legacy of piety, bestows a significant tract of royal land upon a grand cathedral. The cathedral's sole duty in holding this land is to maintain a perpetual chantry, where priests would regularly offer prayers and masses specifically for the king and his royal ancestors. The cathedral is exempt from any other feudal demands or payments to the crown. This grant of land is a clear instance of libera eleemosyna, as the service is entirely spiritual.

• A wealthy merchant, nearing the end of his life in the 14th century, donates a small farm and its income-generating capacity to his local parish church. The church's only responsibility in accepting this gift is to ensure that masses are said regularly for the merchant's salvation and that a portion of the farm's produce is distributed to the poor in his memory. The church does not owe the merchant's heirs any feudal duties or financial payments. This arrangement demonstrates libera eleemosyna, where the land is held in exchange for spiritual and charitable acts.