ALIEN PRIORIES Meaning and
Definition
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Alien priories were a type of religious institution that existed in medieval Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages. The term "alien" referred to the fact that these priories were established by foreign ecclesiastical orders or monasteries on lands outside their own country or jurisdiction.
Primarily found in England, these priories were essentially subsidiary houses, affiliated with a parent monastery or order situated in another country. They were established to administer and manage the properties and estates that were endowed to the foreign monastic order within the host country. Alien priories served as centers for religious worship, education, and charitable activities within local communities.
However, due to their foreign nature and allegiance to external authorities, alien priories were often treated with suspicion by the ruling powers of the host country. In fact, their perceived loyalties to foreign entities raised concerns of potential espionage or conflicting loyalties.
As a result, alien priories became targets for confiscation by the host country's government or monarchy during times of political conflict or war. These priories played a significant role in the struggles between various European powers and, as such, were subject to frequent seizure and subsequent appropriation of their assets and properties by the local authorities.
Eventually, many alien priories were dissolved or appropriated during the Reformation, as religious and political ideologies began to change across Europe. Nonetheless, the term "alien priories" continues to be used historically to refer to these once-existent religious institutions that were established by foreign monastic orders in host countries.
Etymology of ALIEN PRIORIES
The word "alien priories" has Latin roots and originates from the combination of two terms:
1. "Alien": The term "alien" comes from the Latin word "aliēnus", meaning "foreign" or "belonging to another". In the context of "alien priories", it refers to priories that were owned or controlled by a religious order or institution from another country.
2. "Priories": "Priories" is derived from the Latin word "prioratus", meaning "precedence" or "priority". In Catholicism, a priory is a monastery or religious institution governed by a prior, who acts as the superior of a smaller community.
The combination of these terms, "alien priories", refers to priories that were established or controlled by religious orders or institutions originating from outside of a given country.
