Legal Definitions - levance and couchance

Definition: Levance and couchance refers to the state or condition of being levant and couchant. Levant and couchant is a legal term in French that means "lying down and rising up." It was used to describe a feudal tenant who was required to be in attendance at the lord's court, ready to rise up and serve when called upon.

Example: In medieval times, a knight who held land from a lord was expected to be in a state of levance and couchance. This meant that he had to be ready to serve his lord at any time, whether it was to fight in battle or attend court.

Explanation: The example illustrates how levance and couchance was a legal obligation for feudal tenants. It was a way for lords to ensure that their vassals were always available to serve them. The concept of levance and couchance was an important part of the feudal system, which was based on the exchange of land for military service.