Legal Definitions - last heir

Definition: In history, the last heir refers to the person who inherits lands by escheat when there is no legal heir. This person can be the lord of the manor or the sovereign.

Example: In medieval times, if a lord died without any children or relatives to inherit his lands, the last heir would be the person who would receive the property. This could be the king or another noble who had a claim to the land.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the last heir would inherit property when there is no legal heir. In this case, the lord's lands would pass to the last heir, who would become the new owner. This was an important concept in medieval times when land ownership was a key factor in determining social status and power.