Legal Definitions - subinfeudatory

Subinfeudatory

Subinfeudatory (səb-in-fyoo-də-tor-ee) is a noun that refers to a tenant who holds lands by subinfeudation.

• John is a subinfeudatory who holds lands from his lord.
• The subinfeudatory system was common in medieval Europe.

These examples illustrate how a subinfeudatory is a tenant who holds lands from a lord. In the feudal system, lords would grant land to their vassals, who would then subdivide the land and grant it to their own tenants, creating a chain of subinfeudation. The subinfeudatory would owe certain obligations to their lord, such as military service or payment of rent.