subinfeudation

American  

[suhb-in-fyoo-dey-shuhn] / ˌsʌb ɪn fyuˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

Feudal Law.

1. the granting of a portion of an estate by a feudal tenant to a subtenant, held from the tenant on terms similar to those of the grant to the tenant.

2. the tenure established.

3. the estate or fief so created.

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subinfeudation British  

/ ˌsʌbɪnfjʊˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. (in feudal society) the granting of land by a vassal to another man who became his vassal

2. the tenure or relationship so established

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Etymology

Origin of subinfeudation

1720–30; sub- + infeudation enfeoffment < Medieval Latin infeudātiōn-, s. of infeudātiō ( see in- ², feud ², -ation)

Example Sentences

“And Lorren asked about the influence of subinfeudation on Modegan currency. Kilvin had to translate. Even then I could not answer.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

They were included, so far as he was concerned, in their superiors; and the feudal incidents were due to him from the whole of his vassal's fief, whatever tenants might possess it by subinfeudation.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

It may however be surmised that the subdivision and subinfeudation of a holding in the occupation of such a group of kinsmen would be carried out by the formation of further similar groups.

From On The Structure of Greek Tribal Society: An Essay by Seebohm, Hugh E. (Hugh Exton)

This curtailed the advantage of tenants of the greater barons who profited by increased wardships and reliefs from subinfeudation from subdivision and better cultivation of their land while still paying the greater barons fixed sums.

From Our Legal Heritage June 2011 (Sixth) Edition by Reilly, S. A.

In later times this feudal distribution of estates had greatly increased as the bulk of the nobles followed the king's example and bound their tenants to themselves by a similar process of subinfeudation.

From History of the English People, Volume I Early England, 449-1071; Foreign Kings, 1071-1204; The Charter, 1204-1216 by Green, John Richard