Precaria
Encyclopedia
A precaria is a form of land tenure
in which a contract grants the right to use ecclesiastical property for a specific amount of time, for the duration of the grantee's life, offered for services rendered to the church. In feudalism
the use of church lands to support warriors contributed to the growth of precaria in the eighth century. Late historians have called these lands fiefs; however, to the extent that they were church property and not property of the lord or king—a flexible distinction in the ninth and tenth centuries—they were not fiefs. The lord
or king
often paid a fixed rent annually to the church or monastery for the land. The vassal
or knight using the land, did not hold it outright, but—somewhat precariously—during the lord's pleasure he enjoyed all the profits and advantages of the land and its buildings, normally intended to supply the wherewithal required to maintain him and his retinue. If the church did not have enough funds to stay out of poverty the entire land under precaria could be restored to the church. Precaria not only refers to the contract, but also the land under the contract, the benefice
.
Land tenure
Land tenure is the name given, particularly in common law systems, to the legal regime in which land is owned by an individual, who is said to "hold" the land . The sovereign monarch, known as The Crown, held land in its own right. All private owners are either its tenants or sub-tenants...
in which a contract grants the right to use ecclesiastical property for a specific amount of time, for the duration of the grantee's life, offered for services rendered to the church. In feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
the use of church lands to support warriors contributed to the growth of precaria in the eighth century. Late historians have called these lands fiefs; however, to the extent that they were church property and not property of the lord or king—a flexible distinction in the ninth and tenth centuries—they were not fiefs. The lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
or king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
often paid a fixed rent annually to the church or monastery for the land. The vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
or knight using the land, did not hold it outright, but—somewhat precariously—during the lord's pleasure he enjoyed all the profits and advantages of the land and its buildings, normally intended to supply the wherewithal required to maintain him and his retinue. If the church did not have enough funds to stay out of poverty the entire land under precaria could be restored to the church. Precaria not only refers to the contract, but also the land under the contract, the benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
.