Seigniorial: meaning, definitions and examples
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seigniorial
[ ˈseɪnjərɪəl ]
feudal system
Seigniorial refers to the system of governance or authority held by a seignior, a feudal lord in medieval Europe. This term often describes the rights and privileges associated with the ownership of land and the control over the peasantry. In a seigniorial system, the seignior exercised jurisdiction over his domain, which included the power to levy taxes and enforce laws. The term also implies a hierarchical structure where social and economic power rested with the landowners, impacting the lives of serfs and tenants.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The seigniorial system dictated the lives of many peasants.
- Seigniorial rights granted the lord significant control over the land.
- During the seigniorial period, loyalty to the local lords was essential.
Translations
Translations of the word "seigniorial" in other languages:
🇵🇹 senhorial
🇮🇳 सेन्योरियल
🇩🇪 seigniorial
🇮🇩 seigniorial
🇺🇦 сеньйоріальний
🇵🇱 senioralny
🇯🇵 領主の
🇫🇷 seigneurial
🇪🇸 señorial
🇹🇷 senyörlük
🇰🇷 영주적인
🇸🇦 إقطاعي
🇨🇿 panské
🇸🇰 panské
🇨🇳 领主的
🇸🇮 gospodarski
🇮🇸 seigniorial
🇰🇿 феодалдық
🇬🇪 სენიორული
🇦🇿 senyorial
🇲🇽 señorial
Etymology
The term 'seigniorial' originates from the Old French word 'seigneur', meaning 'lord' or 'master', which itself derives from the Latin word 'senior', meaning 'older'. The concept of seignorialism emerged during the feudal era in Europe, particularly in France, as a way to describe the power dynamics of land ownership during the Middle Ages. Seigniorial systems were characterized by a hierarchy where land was held by lords who had authority over the serfs working their lands. This arrangement was pivotal to the social and economic structures of medieval society, influencing land use and labor until the decline of feudalism in the late medieval period. Over time, the seigniorial system evolved into more modern concepts of land ownership and governance, shaping the development of property rights and legal systems in Europe.