Legal Definitions - meigne

The term meigne is a historical legal term that refers to the household, retinue, or company of people associated with a lord, noble, or master. It encompasses all individuals living within or attached to a household, including family members, servants, retainers, and other dependents who are under the authority and protection of the head of the household.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of meigne:

• Imagine a powerful medieval duke residing in his fortified castle. His meigne would include not only his wife and children but also his knights, squires, pages, cooks, stablehands, laundresses, and various other domestic staff and personal attendants who lived within the castle walls and served his household. All these individuals, bound by their service and dependence on the duke, collectively formed his meigne.

  This example demonstrates how the term applies to a large, diverse group of people, from high-ranking military retainers to humble servants, all united under the authority and protection of a single lord within a defined household structure.

• Consider a wealthy 15th-century English landowner who maintained a substantial manor house. His meigne would consist of his immediate family, but also a significant number of farm laborers, estate managers, personal secretaries, and household servants who lived on his property or were directly employed by him. These individuals relied on the landowner for their livelihood, shelter, and security.

  This illustrates that the concept of a meigne was not exclusive to the highest nobility but extended to any significant household with numerous followers or staff, highlighting the economic and social dependency inherent in the term.

• During a historical military campaign, a prominent general would travel with a substantial personal entourage. This group, his meigne, would include his personal guard, aides-de-camp, cooks, valets, and other support staff necessary to maintain his command and personal well-being in the field. They were all under his direct command and protection, forming his mobile household.

  This example shows that a meigne could also be a more transient or mobile group, emphasizing the aspect of a retinue or company of followers who accompany and serve a master, even away from a fixed residence.