MESNE LORDS Meaning and
Definition
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Mesne lords, also referred to as mesne tenants, are individuals who hold land or property from a higher-ranking lord, but also lease or grant that land to a lower-ranking tenant. The term "mesne" is derived from the Latin word "medius," meaning "middle," which reflects their intermediate position in the feudal land tenure system.
In medieval feudal societies, mesne lords emerged as a crucial link between the upper-level lords, such as barons or earls, and the lower-level tenants or peasants. Mesne lords were granted a portion of the land by a higher-ranking lord, known as the lord paramount, as a reward for military service or other forms of loyalty. These mesne lords were then authorized to subdivide and lease their land to lower-ranking tenants, known as sub-tenants or mesne tenants.
By collecting rents and other dues from their sub-tenants, mesne lords fulfilled their obligations to the lord paramount while also securing their own income. They also held the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the land they leased out to sub-tenants.
The relationship between mesne lords and their sub-tenants was typically governed by a contractual agreement known as a subinfeudation, which outlined the terms of tenancy and the responsibilities of each party. This hierarchical system of land tenure helped maintain social order, as mesne lords provided their sub-tenants with protection and resources in exchange for agricultural labor and other services.
Overall, mesne lords played a crucial role in the feudal land tenure system, acting as intermediaries in the distribution and management of land, and maintaining the hierarchical structure that characterized medieval society.
Common Misspellings for MESNE LORDS
- mesne lord
- nesne lords
- kesne lords
- jesne lords
- mwsne lords
- mssne lords
- mdsne lords
- mrsne lords
- m4sne lords
- m3sne lords
- meane lords
- mezne lords
- mexne lords
- medne lords
- meene lords
- mewne lords
- mesbe lords
- mesme lords
- mesje lords
- meshe lords
Etymology of MESNE LORDS
The term "mesne lords" originates from medieval England and is derived from Old French.
Etymologically, the word "mesne" is derived from the Old French word "meien", which means "middle". In feudal law, it refers to a lord who holds land directly from a superior lord but also grants part of that land to sub-tenants. These sub-tenants, in turn, become mesne lords, as they hold the land "in the middle" between the superior lord and their own sub-tenants.
In legal documents and records from the Middle Ages, this term appears to emphasize the position of these intermediate lords within the feudal hierarchy. Over time, "mesne" became associated with the concept of intermediary status, both in feudalism and in other contexts.
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