Legal Definitions - meiny

The term meiny is a historical legal term that refers to a group of people associated with a particular individual or household, often including family members, servants, and retainers. It most commonly described the entire household of a person of high status, such as a monarch or a powerful noble.

Here are some examples to illustrate the meaning of meiny:

• Imagine a medieval king traveling through his lands. His meiny would include not only his immediate family—his queen and children—but also his personal knights, squires, chaplains, cooks, stablehands, and various advisors and attendants who accompanied him and lived within his royal court or encampment. This illustrates how the term encompassed the entire retinue and domestic staff of a monarch.

• Consider a powerful duke residing in his fortified castle during the 14th century. His meiny would consist of his wife and heirs, his personal guards, chamberlains, scribes, and a large number of domestic servants responsible for the upkeep of the castle and the comfort of its inhabitants. This example demonstrates the application of meiny to the extensive household of a high-ranking noble, beyond just the immediate family.

• During a significant historical event, such as a royal wedding or coronation, the monarch's meiny would expand to include all the officials, dignitaries, and their personal staff who were temporarily brought into the royal service or resided within the royal precincts for the duration of the festivities. This shows how the composition of a meiny could fluctuate, but always centered around the principal figure and their immediate sphere of influence and service.