Demesne

A demesne (/dɪˈmeɪn, -ˈmiːn/ di-MAYN, -⁠MEEN) or domain^[1] was all the land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation,^[2] or support. This distinguished it from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. In contrast, the entire territory controlled by a monarch both directly and indirectly via their tenant lords would typically be referred to as their realm. The concept originated in the Kingdom of France and found its way to foreign lands influenced by it or its fiefdoms.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, royal demesne is the land held by the Crown, and ancient demesne is the legal term for the land held by the king at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086.^[2]

^ "demesne". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Demesne" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 980.

[1] "demesne". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020.

[EB1911-2] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Demesne" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 980.

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