tenant-in-chief
King's direct landholder
A tenant-in-chief was a person who held land directly from the king in medieval feudal systems.
Rather than renting from an intermediate lord, tenants-in-chief owed allegiance and service—usually military—directly to the crown.
They often sublet portions of their holdings to lesser tenants, creating the hierarchical structure of feudalism: The great barons were tenants-in-chief, each commanding vassals of their own.
Property and grounds
- domainArea of control
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- grantBestow or award money
- charterFounding organizational document
noble · landed · patrimony · inheritance · territorial · possession · benefice · lordship
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- homageExpression of deep respect
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- knight-serviceLand granted for military obligation
demesne · overlord · liege · escheat · barony · manor · relief · wardship
Titled ruling class
- baronLow-ranking peer
- earlBritish hereditary noble rank
- magnateWealthy business leader
- peerOne of similar standing
aristocrat · rank · status · royal court · king's man · tenement · subordinate · allegiance
estate
Property and grounds
charter · noble · landed · patrimony · inheritance · territorial · possession · benefice · lordship · acres
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
knight-service · demesne · overlord · liege · escheat · barony · manor · relief · wardship · crown land
nobility
Titled ruling class
peer · aristocrat · rank · status · royal court · king's man · tenement · subordinate · allegiance · sovereign
tenant-in-chiefsubtenant
Renter from another renter
undertenant · villein · serf · copyholder · peasant
chief, tenant, tenants, tenanted, tenanting, tenantless, cotenant