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Simple English definitions for legal terms
feodum
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A quick definition of feodum:
Feodum: A word used in history to describe a type of land ownership. It means that someone owned land and had to do something in return for it, like provide a service or pay money. Feodum can also refer to the part of a lord's land that was given to a tenant. There were different types of feodum, like feodum militis which was land given to a knight, and feodum nobile which was land given to someone who was noble. Feodum is an old word that is not used much anymore.
A more thorough explanation:
FEODUM
Feodum (also spelled feudum) is a legal term used in history to describe a heritable estate or fee. It refers to an estate of inheritance held by a tenant in exchange for service to a lord. Feodum can also refer to a part of a lord's estate held by a tenant, or a payment for services rendered.
- Feodum militis: A knight's fee, held by military service.
- Feodum nobile: A noble fee, for which the tenant owed fealty and homage.
- Feodum apertum: A fee that reverted to the lord due to a tenant's failure of issue or other legal cause.
These examples illustrate the different types of feodum that existed in medieval times. Feodum militis was the most honorable type of tenure, held by knights in exchange for military service. Feodum nobile was a fee for which the tenant owed fealty and homage, indicating a higher social status. Feodum apertum was a fee that reverted to the lord due to legal reasons, such as a tenant's failure to produce an heir.