Legal Definitions - liege woman

A liege woman is a historical term referring to a woman who, within a feudal system, owed loyalty, service, or allegiance to a feudal lord or sovereign. This relationship typically involved an exchange of protection or rights (such as land tenure) for her service, military aid (often through a male relative or financial contribution), or financial contributions.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a liege woman:

• Example 1: Lady Isolde inherited a small barony from her father in 12th-century France. As a vassal, she was a liege woman to the Duke of Normandy, from whom her lands were held. Her obligations included providing a contingent of knights for the Duke's army when summoned and attending his court on specific occasions, demonstrating her sworn loyalty and service in exchange for the right to govern her territory.

  This example illustrates a noblewoman holding land directly from a higher lord and fulfilling her feudal duties, including military service (even if performed by her knights) and court attendance, as a demonstration of her allegiance.

• Example 2: In a medieval English village, Elara was a peasant woman living on the manor of Baron Fitzwilliam. As a liege woman of the Baron, she was obligated to spend several days each week working in his fields, contribute a portion of her harvest, and pay certain taxes. In return, she received protection from the Baron and the right to cultivate her own small plot of land within the manor.

  This example illustrates a commoner woman owing labor and produce to her lord, highlighting the economic and protective aspects of the feudal relationship where her livelihood was tied to her allegiance and service.

• Example 3: Countess Beatrice served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. While holding her own ancestral lands, she was also a liege woman to the Queen, offering personal service, counsel, and unwavering loyalty within the royal court. Her position underscored a direct personal fealty to the sovereign, beyond just land tenure.

  This example illustrates a noblewoman whose allegiance extended to personal service and loyalty within a royal court, demonstrating a direct, often more personal, form of fealty to a sovereign rather than solely through land-based obligations.