Legal Definitions - manutenentia

Definition: Manutenentia (pronounced man-yuh-tuh-nen-shee-uh) is a legal term that refers to an old writ of maintenance. It is similar to the term maintenance, which means to provide support or upkeep for someone or something.

Example: In medieval times, a lord might provide manutenentia to a knight, which meant that the lord would support the knight and his family in exchange for the knight's loyalty and service.

Explanation: This example illustrates how manutenentia was used in a feudal society to establish a relationship of mutual support and obligation between a lord and his vassal. The lord provided manutenentia to the knight, which included financial support, protection, and other forms of assistance, in exchange for the knight's loyalty and military service. This system helped to maintain social order and stability, but it also created a hierarchical and unequal society in which the rights and privileges of the ruling class were protected at the expense of the common people.