Feudal baron: Difference between revisions

The [[English feudal barony]], or "barony by tenure", now has no distinct legal position. It was a form of [[feudal land tenure]], namely ''per baroniam'' (Latin for "by barony") under which the land-holder owed the service of being one of the king's barons. It must be distinguished from a barony, also feudal, but which existed within a [[county palatine]], such as the barony of Halton within the [[Palatinate of Chester]].<ref>Sanders (1960), p.138, refers to the "Lord" of Halton being the hereditary constable of the County Palatine of Chester, and omits Halton from both his lists.</ref> The duties and privileges owed by feudal barons cannot now be defined exactly but involved respectively the provision of soldiers to the royal feudal army on demand by the king, and the attendance at the king's feudal court, the precursor of [[Parliament of England|parliament]]. The [[Estate (law)|estate-in-land]] held by barony if containing a significant castle as its ''[[caput]]'' and if especially large, that is to say consisting of more than about 20 [[knight's fee]]s (each loosely equivalent to a [[manor]]), was termed an "[[Honour (feudal land tenure)|honour]]". These manors invariably included many that were [[subinfeudation|subinfeudated]].

 

 

Feudal Baron titles exist in England and Scotland. From the time of the Conquest they were land based titles of tenure. These titles of tenure were titles of dignity; not peerage. Most English Feudal Barons were converted to baronies of writ or peerage according to the Abolition Act of 1660. The baronies not converted became baronies of free socage, a dignity title. Scottish baronies are governed by the Lord Lyon. Feudal baronies are among the only titles that can be legally transferred as they are considered non-physical property within the UK.{{fact|date=June 2013}}