feudal system

An ancient system of land ownership. Under old English common law, the king owned all lands.All other people were mere tenants,who enjoyed possession solely by virtue of the goodwill of the overlord above them. By the seventeenth century the system was replaced by the allodial system we know today.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.