Legal Definitions - glebe

Definition: Glebe (gleeb) is a term that has two meanings:

1. In Roman law, it refers to the soil of an inheritance or an agrarian estate. Slaves bound to the land were called Servi addicti glebae.
2. In Ecclesiastical law, it refers to land possessed as part of the endowment or revenue of a church or ecclesiastical benefice. Diocesan glebe land is the largest section of ecclesiastical conveyancing work.

For example, in Roman law, if a person inherited a piece of land, that land would be considered their glebe. The slaves who worked on that land were also bound to it and could not leave without permission. In Ecclesiastical law, churches or religious institutions may own land that is considered their glebe. This land is used to generate revenue for the church or to provide housing for the clergy.

The examples illustrate how the term glebe can be used in different contexts. In Roman law, it refers to the ownership of land and the people who work on it. In Ecclesiastical law, it refers to the land owned by a church or religious institution that is used to generate revenue or provide housing for the clergy.