A vavasour (also vavasor; Old Frenchvavassor, vavassour; Modern Frenchvavasseur; Late Latinvavassor) is a term in feudal law. A vavasour was the vassal or tenant of a baron, one who held his tenancy under a baron, and who also had tenants under him.
The derivation of the word is obscure. It may be derived from vassi ad valvas (at the folding-doors, valvae), i.e. servants of the royal antechamber. Du Cange regarded it merely as an obscure variant of vassus, probably from vassus vassorum "vassal of the vassals".[1] Alternative spellings include vavasor, valvasor, vasseur, vasvassor, oavassor, and others.
In its most general sense the word thus indicated a mediate vassal, i.e. one holding a fief under a vassal. The word was, however, applied at various times to the most diverse ranks in the feudal hierarchy, being used practically as the synonym of vassal. Thus tenants-in-chief of the crown are described by the Emperor Conrad II as valvassores majores,[2] as distinguished from mediate tenants, valvassores minores.[1]
Gradually the term without qualification was found convenient for describing sub-vassals, tenants-in-chief being called capitanei or barones; but its implication, however, still varied in different places and times. Bracton ranked the magnates seu valvassores between barons and knights;[3] for him they are "men of great dignity," and in this order they are found in a charter of Henry II of England (1166). But in the regestum of Philip II Augustus we find that five vavassors are reckoned as the equivalent of one knight.[4] Finally, Du Cange quotes two charters, one of 1187, another of 1349, in which vavassors are clearly distinguished from nobles.[1]
Vavasours subdivide again to vassals, exchanging land and cattle, human or otherwise, against fealty. - Motley.
In fictionedit
Used as a Christian name (Colonel Vavasour Devorax) in the novel A Crowning Mercy by Bernard Cornwell and Susannah Kells (aka Judy Cornwell).
Used in Arthurian Romances, by Chretien de Troyes in Perceval: The Story of the Grail (Everyman Classics 1991). "You can say that the vavasor who fitted on your spur taught and instructed you." p. 397.
In the 1980s TV seriesThe Paper Chase, Season 2, Episode 16 ("My Dinner with Kingsfield"), Contract Law Professor Charles W. Kingsfield plays the word "vavasor" and earns 60 points in a Scrabble game with his student James T. Hart while staying at Hart's residence during a snowstorm that has immobilized Kingsfield's car. He defines the word to Hart (who has never heard it before) as a "medieval term for 'tenant slightly below a baron.'"[5]
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Vavassor". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 962.
^The Paper Chase, Season 2, Episode 16: "My Dinner with Kingsfield" (YouTube)
April 12, 2024
vavasour, this, article, about, feudal, rank, other, uses, disambiguation, vavasour, also, vavasor, french, vavassor, vavassour, modern, french, vavasseur, late, latin, vavassor, term, feudal, vavasour, vassal, tenant, baron, held, tenancy, under, baron, also,. This article is about the feudal rank For other uses see Vavasour disambiguation A vavasour also vavasor Old French vavassor vavassour Modern French vavasseur Late Latin vavassor is a term in feudal law A vavasour was the vassal or tenant of a baron one who held his tenancy under a baron and who also had tenants under him Contents 1 Definition and derivation 2 In fiction 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesDefinition and derivation editThe derivation of the word is obscure It may be derived from vassi ad valvas at the folding doors valvae i e servants of the royal antechamber Du Cange regarded it merely as an obscure variant of vassus probably from vassus vassorum vassal of the vassals 1 Alternative spellings include vavasor valvasor vasseur vasvassor oavassor and others In its most general sense the word thus indicated a mediate vassal i e one holding a fief under a vassal The word was however applied at various times to the most diverse ranks in the feudal hierarchy being used practically as the synonym of vassal Thus tenants in chief of the crown are described by the Emperor Conrad II as valvassores majores 2 as distinguished from mediate tenants valvassores minores 1 Gradually the term without qualification was found convenient for describing sub vassals tenants in chief being called capitanei or barones but its implication however still varied in different places and times Bracton ranked the magnates seu valvassores between barons and knights 3 for him they are men of great dignity and in this order they are found in a charter of Henry II of England 1166 But in the regestum of Philip II Augustus we find that five vavassors are reckoned as the equivalent of one knight 4 Finally Du Cange quotes two charters one of 1187 another of 1349 in which vavassors are clearly distinguished from nobles 1 Vavasours subdivide again to vassals exchanging land and cattle human or otherwise against fealty Motley In fiction editUsed as a Christian name Colonel Vavasour Devorax in the novel A Crowning Mercy by Bernard Cornwell and Susannah Kells aka Judy Cornwell Used twice as a surname by Dorothy L Sayers once in Murder Must Advertise Miss Ethel Vavasour Jim Tallboy s girlfriend and once in Have His Carcase Maurice Vavasour a pseudonym of the murderer Used as a surname by John Banville in The Sea Miss Vavasour Used in Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes in Perceval The Story of the Grail Everyman Classics 1991 You can say that the vavasor who fitted on your spur taught and instructed you p 397 Vavasor is a surname in Anthony Trollope s Can You Forgive Her Used in The Sandman graphic novel 1989 issue 10 as well as its television adaptation 2022 episode 7 Vavasor is the surname of a Some Girls character Holli Jane Vavasor played by Natasha Jonas Used as the Christian name of Sir Vavasour Firebrace a proud baronet in Disraeli s Sybil Used in William Morris The Well at the World s End where King Peter s subjects are described as sturdy vavassors who would not accept masterful doings In popular culture editIn the 1980s TV series The Paper Chase Season 2 Episode 16 My Dinner with Kingsfield Contract Law Professor Charles W Kingsfield plays the word vavasor and earns 60 points in a Scrabble game with his student James T Hart while staying at Hart s residence during a snowstorm that has immobilized Kingsfield s car He defines the word to Hart who has never heard it before as a medieval term for tenant slightly below a baron 5 See also editFeu Mesne lordReferences edit a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Vavassor Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 27 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 962 Lex Lamgob lib iii tit 8 4 Henry de Bracton De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae lib i cap 8 2 Philip II Augustus Regestum fol 158 The Paper Chase Season 2 Episode 16 My Dinner with Kingsfield YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vavasour amp oldid 1163950395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
