A villein is an individual who is entirely under the authority of a lord or connected to a manor, but has freedom in relation to everyone else. Similar to serfs, they constituted approximately 40% of households in England at one time. There were two categories of villeins: villein in gross, who could be transferred from one owner to another, and villein regardant, who were tied to a particular piece of land.
A villein is an individual who is fully under the control of a lord or tied to a manor, but has freedom in relation to everyone else. During the time of the Domesday Inquest, shortly after the Norman Conquest, villeins were similar to serfs and made up the largest portion of the English population. There were two types of villeins: Villein in gross, who were attached to the lord personally and could be transferred to another owner through a legal document, and Villein regardant, who were tied to the manor itself. For instance, if a lord owned a manor, the villeins residing on that manor were completely subject to that lord. They were obligated to work the land and pay taxes to the lord, but they had freedom in relation to others. They were not allowed to leave the manor without the lord’s permission. If a villein was a villein in gross, they could be sold or transferred to another lord through a legal document. However, if a villein was a villein regardant, they were attached to the land of the manor and could not be sold or transferred separately from it.
A villein was a term used in medieval Europe to describe a peasant or serf who was bound to work on a lord’s estate in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate a portion of land.
No, the concept of villeins is no longer recognized in modern legal systems. It was abolished with the decline of feudalism.
Villeins had limited rights and were subject to the control and demands of their lord. They were obligated to work on the lord’s land and pay various dues and taxes.
Villeins did not have full ownership rights over the land they cultivated. The land belonged to the lord, and the villein’s rights were limited to using and cultivating it.
While both villeins and slaves were bound to work for their masters, villeins were not considered property and had some legal rights, albeit limited. Slaves, on the other hand, were considered property and had no legal rights.
Yes, villeins were allowed to marry, but their marriages were subject to the approval of their lord, who often had the power to arrange marriages for them.
Villeins were generally not allowed to leave their lord’s estate without permission. They were tied to the land and were required to work on it.
If a villein ran away, they could be pursued and brought back by their lord. Punishments for running away could range from fines to physical punishment.
Villeinage gradually declined with the rise of capitalism and the transition to more modern forms of labor. It was officially abolished in most European countries by the 19th century.
While the concept of villeinage itself no longer exists, remnants of the feudal system can still be seen in certain legal principles and property rights that have evolved over time. However, these remnants are not directly related to villeinage itself.
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This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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