Legal Definitions - subfeudum

Subfeudum

A subfeudum refers to a historical practice within the feudal system where a lord, who had received a grant of land (known as a "fief" or "fee") from a superior lord, would then grant a portion of that land to another, lesser lord or knight. This secondary grant created a subordinate holding, essentially a "sub-fief," where the new grantee owed loyalty and service to the intermediate lord, rather than directly to the original grantor of the larger fee.

Examples:

• Imagine a powerful Duke who holds vast territories directly from the King. To manage and defend his lands, the Duke grants a significant portion of his territory to a Baron in exchange for military service and fealty. This portion of land granted to the Baron by the Duke would be considered a subfeudum. The Baron, in turn, would owe his allegiance and services to the Duke, who acts as the intermediate lord between the Baron and the King.

• Consider a wealthy Earl who has received a large estate from a Duke. The Earl decides to further divide a part of his estate, granting a smaller parcel of farmland and a village to a loyal Knight. In return, the Knight pledges to provide military service to the Earl when called upon. This smaller parcel of land held by the Knight from the Earl is a subfeudum, establishing a direct feudal relationship between the Knight and the Earl.

• During medieval times, a Bishop might hold extensive lands granted by the Crown to support his diocese. To ensure the administration and protection of these lands, the Bishop could grant a specific manor or village to a local noble. This noble would then manage the land, collect rents, and provide a certain number of armed men to the Bishop when needed. This grant from the Bishop to the noble would constitute a subfeudum, creating a layer of feudal obligation beneath the Bishop's primary holding.