Feodary: An individual employed by the Court of Wards who accompanied the escheator in gathering rent and assessing the value of land for the king.
Feodaries were officers of the Court of Wards who collaborated with the escheator in collecting royal rents and evaluating the worth of land tenures for the Crown. They would travel from county to county to fulfil their duties. For instance, during King Henry VIII’s reign, feodaries were tasked with determining the value of land and property owned by nobles and wealthy individuals. This information would then be reported to the Court of Wards, which would utilise it to establish the appropriate amount of rent and taxes to be paid to the Crown. This example highlights the significance of feodaries as crucial officials in the Court of Wards, responsible for assessing the value of land and property across the entire kingdom. Through their efforts, they aided the Crown in generating the necessary revenue to support its activities and uphold its authority.
A Feodary is a term used in medieval times to refer to a person who held land from a feudal lord in exchange for certain services or obligations.
The obligations of a Feodary typically included providing military service, paying rent or tribute to the feudal lord, and offering other forms of support such as maintaining the lord’s estate or participating in court proceedings.
No, the concept of Feodary is no longer relevant in modern legal systems. Feudalism and the associated obligations have been largely abolished and replaced by more contemporary legal frameworks.
Feodaries were not considered property themselves, but rather held property from the feudal lord. They were essentially tenants who had certain rights and obligations tied to the land they held.
In some cases, Feodaries were allowed to transfer or sell their land, but this often required the consent of the feudal lord. The terms of such transfers were typically governed by feudal law and customs.
If a Feodary failed to fulfill their obligations, they could face penalties or sanctions imposed by the feudal lord. These could range from fines or loss of privileges to even losing their land.
Feodaries had certain legal rights, such as the right to protection from the feudal lord and the right to use and enjoy the land they held. However, these rights were often limited and subject to the feudal lord’s authority.
Feodaries typically acquired their land through a process known as enfeoffment, where the feudal lord granted them the land in exchange for their services and obligations.
Feodaries were not considered part of the nobility, as they did not possess the same hereditary privileges and social status. They were generally lower-ranking individuals who held land from the nobles.
The decline of Feodaries can be attributed to various factors, including the rise of centralized monarchies, the emergence of more modern legal systems, and societal changes that led to the erosion of feudalism as a dominant social and economic structure.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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