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Simple English definitions for legal terms
knight's service
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A quick definition of knight's service:
Knight's service: A type of land ownership where a knight holds land from someone else or the king in exchange for a promise to serve in the military. The knight would have to serve for 40 days a year if called upon. This was the most common type of land ownership in England during medieval times.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Knight's service is a type of land tenure where a knight holds land from another person or the Crown in exchange for a promise to provide military service.
For example, a knight might hold land from the king and promise to provide military service for forty days each year. This was known as the "service of one knight" or "servitium unius militis."
This type of tenure was common in medieval England, where many knights held land from the king in exchange for their military service.
Overall, knight's service was a way for knights to gain land and status in society, while also fulfilling their duty to provide military service to their lord or the Crown.