Legal Definitions - reseiser

Definition: Reseiser (ri-see-zər) is a historical term that refers to the act of a monarch taking lands in a case where a general livery or ouster le main was previously misused.

During the medieval period, the monarch had the power to take lands from individuals who had misused their rights. For example, if a lord had granted land to a tenant and then took it back without just cause, the monarch could step in and take the land through reseiser.

Another example of reseiser occurred when a lord died and his heir was underage. In this case, the monarch could take control of the lands until the heir came of age and was able to manage them properly.

These examples illustrate how reseiser was used as a means of ensuring that land was distributed fairly and that individuals did not abuse their power or rights.