Fiefdom

In feudalism, a fiefdom (also called a fief, feud, feoff, or fee) was a property or right that an overlord gave a vassal in exchange for military service. This property, of whatever size, could be inherited by the man's heirs. However, not only land but anything of value could be held in fee, including a political office, hunting or fishing rights or monopolies in trade. A fief included the right of possession of something but with conditions.

References

  1. ↑ Susan Reynolds, Fiefs and Vassals (Oxford; New York: The Clarendon Press, 2001), p. 69
  2. ↑ Carl Stephenson, Mediaeval Feudalism (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1956), p. 23