Legal Definitions - subinfeudate

Subinfeudate is a historical legal term that describes a specific practice within feudal land tenure systems. It refers to the act by which a landholder, who himself held land from a superior lord, would in turn grant a portion of that land to another person. In this arrangement, the new recipient of the land would become the vassal of the grantor (the person who gave them the land), rather than directly owing allegiance or service to the grantor's own superior lord. Essentially, subinfeudation created a new, subordinate layer in the feudal hierarchy of land ownership and loyalty.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: A Knight and His Squier

  Imagine Sir Kael, a knight, holds a manor from Baroness Eleanor, promising military service and loyalty. Sir Kael finds his manor too large to manage alone and needs assistance. He decides to grant a small farm within his manor to his loyal squier, Thomas, in exchange for Thomas's agricultural labor and continued service to Sir Kael. In this scenario, Sir Kael has subinfeudated a portion of his land. Thomas now holds the farm directly from Sir Kael, owing his duties and allegiance to Sir Kael, not to Baroness Eleanor. A new, direct feudal relationship has been established between Sir Kael and Thomas, subordinate to Sir Kael's relationship with Baroness Eleanor.

• Example 2: A Duke and a Local Lord

  Consider Duke Alaric, who holds a vast duchy directly from the King, providing a large contingent of knights and significant taxes. To better administer his expansive territory, Duke Alaric grants a strategic castle and its surrounding lands to Lord Gareth, a trusted noble, in exchange for Lord Gareth's military support and local governance. Duke Alaric has subinfeudated a part of his duchy. Lord Gareth becomes Duke Alaric's vassal, owing his fealty and services to Duke Alaric, not directly to the King. This act creates a new tier of landholding and loyalty beneath the Duke.

• Example 3: A Monastery and a Farmer

  Suppose the Abbey of St. Benedict holds a large agricultural estate from the local Count, providing prayers and a portion of its harvest. The Abbey needs to ensure a specific section of its land is cultivated efficiently. The Abbot grants a small parcel of this land to a skilled farmer, Elara, in return for Elara cultivating that land and providing a fixed share of its produce to the Abbey. The Abbey has subinfeudated a part of its holdings. Elara becomes a tenant (a form of vassal) of the Abbey, owing her duties and a share of her harvest to the Abbey, not to the Count. This establishes a direct, subordinate landholding relationship between Elara and the Abbey.