Serjeanty is a form of feudal land tenure in which the tenant is obligated to provide personal service to the king. This service can range from military duties to working in the royal household as a cook or baker. There are two types of serjeanty: grand serjeanty, which involves a service related to the defence of the country, and petit serjeanty, which requires a minor service of lesser significance, often with military symbolism. An example of petit serjeanty is presenting an arrow or an unstrung bow to the king.
Serjeanty is a form of feudal lay tenure that necessitates some sort of personal service to the king. The service required is not always military in nature and can vary from small symbolic acts to substantial contributions to the defence of the country. Grand serjeanty, on the other hand, is a specific type of serjeanty that mandates the tenant to perform a service related to the defence of the country. This service can be significant, such as raising an army, or minor, such as providing a fully equipped knight. Occasionally, the service may be ceremonial or honourary, such as carrying the king’s banner or serving as an officer during the coronation. Petit serjeanty, however, is a type of serjeanty that only requires a minor service of little value, usually with military symbolism. An example of this would be presenting an arrow or an unstrung bow to the king. Even humble household officers of the Crown, like bakers and cooks, held lands in serjeanty, demonstrating that the required service was not necessarily military and could encompass any form of personal service to the king. The examples of grand and petit serjeanty highlight the range of required services, from significant contributions to the defence of the country to small symbolic acts.
Serjeanty is a feudal land tenure system in which a tenant held land in exchange for providing a specific service to the lord, such as military service or performing a particular duty.
Serjeanty is no longer a common form of land tenure and is not relevant in modern legal systems.
Since serjeanty is no longer a common practice, it is unlikely to be enforced in court.
The obligations of a serjeanty tenant would have varied depending on the specific terms of the arrangement, but typically would have involved providing a specific service or duty to the lord in exchange for the land.
In some cases, serjeanty could be passed down through inheritance, but this would have depended on the specific terms of the arrangement and the laws of the time.
There are generally no legal implications of serjeanty in modern legal systems, as it is no longer a common practice.
It is unlikely that serjeanty could be converted to a modern form of land tenure, as it is a historical practice that is no longer relevant.
Serjeanty originated in medieval England as a way for tenants to hold land in exchange for providing specific services to the lord.
Legal disputes related to serjeanty are rare, given that it is no longer a common practice.
It is unlikely that serjeanty could be used as a defence in a modern legal case, as it is a historical practice with little relevance today.
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This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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