| English feudalism |
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| Feudal land tenure in England |
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InEnglish law,subinfeudation is the practice by whichtenants, holding land under theking or other superior lord, carved out new and distinct tenures in their turn by sub-letting oralienating a part of their lands.[1][2]
The tenants were termedmesne lords, with regard to those holding from them, the immediate tenant beingtenant incapite. The lowest tenant of all was thefreeholder, or, as he was sometimes termed,tenant paravail. The Crown, who in theory owned all lands, waslord paramount.[1]
The great lords looked with dissatisfaction on the increase of such subtenures. Accordingly, in 1290 a statute was passed,Quia Emptores, which allowed the tenant to alienate whenever he pleased, but the person to whom he granted the land was to hold it for the same immediate lord, and by the same services as the alienor held it before.[1]
InScots law, the feudal system was abolished by theAbolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. The length of alease was limited to 175 years to prevent the existence of perpetual landlord–tenant relationships similar to those that existed under feudal tenure.[3]
Within theHoly Roman Empire, mesne fiefs were known asAfterlehen, which became inheritable over time and could have up to five "stations" between the actual holder of the fief and the overarching liege lord.[4]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Subinfeudation".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1062. | This article related toEnglish law is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |