Medieval French Rent Roll | Villers Family of Dombes Land Record | Burgundy | 1459–1462 CE
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: Burgundy, France
Material: Heavy wove paper, ink in Carolingian minuscule script
Period: 15th Century (1459–1462 CE)
Description
This remarkable medieval rent roll, originating from Burgundy, France, offers a firsthand record of feudal land tenure in the mid-15th century. The document, written in Latin between 1459–1462, records a land rent agreement between the Villers family of Dombes and Bertrand Boyssemer, a noble tenant, under Lady Jane. It details both monetary and agricultural obligations—three shillings and two pence, a portion of corn, hay, and poultry—reflecting the intricate balance of economic, agricultural, and legal practices central to medieval estate management.
Features
- Written in Latin in Carolingian minuscule script
- Records annual and perpetual service obligations of currency and produce
- Detailed land boundary descriptions, including fields, groves, and ponds near Vissemur
- Professionally framed with accompanying English translation
- Measures approximately 16 in x 12 in (framed)
Cultural Significance
Feudal rent rolls such as this one were essential to the functioning of medieval society, establishing legal obligations between landholders and tenants while providing landowners with continuous revenue and resources. The Villers family’s record exemplifies how written agreements served to legitimize and enforce feudal obligations, while the detailed geographic descriptions illustrate the precision of medieval boundary law. Documents like this stand as rare survivals of medieval legal and economic practice, offering invaluable insight into property law, land use, and the socio-economic systems of Burgundy under feudal rule.
Condition
Excellent preservation, with text clear and legible. Framed for protection and display, with minimal signs of wear. The attached English translation enhances accessibility and understanding of its historical content.
Dimensions
Frame:
Height: 16 in
Width: 12 in
Age
1459–1462 CE
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: Burgundy, France
Material: Heavy wove paper, ink in Carolingian minuscule script
Period: 15th Century (1459–1462 CE)
Description
This remarkable medieval rent roll, originating from Burgundy, France, offers a firsthand record of feudal land tenure in the mid-15th century. The document, written in Latin between 1459–1462, records a land rent agreement between the Villers family of Dombes and Bertrand Boyssemer, a noble tenant, under Lady Jane. It details both monetary and agricultural obligations—three shillings and two pence, a portion of corn, hay, and poultry—reflecting the intricate balance of economic, agricultural, and legal practices central to medieval estate management.
Features
- Written in Latin in Carolingian minuscule script
- Records annual and perpetual service obligations of currency and produce
- Detailed land boundary descriptions, including fields, groves, and ponds near Vissemur
- Professionally framed with accompanying English translation
- Measures approximately 16 in x 12 in (framed)
Cultural Significance
Feudal rent rolls such as this one were essential to the functioning of medieval society, establishing legal obligations between landholders and tenants while providing landowners with continuous revenue and resources. The Villers family’s record exemplifies how written agreements served to legitimize and enforce feudal obligations, while the detailed geographic descriptions illustrate the precision of medieval boundary law. Documents like this stand as rare survivals of medieval legal and economic practice, offering invaluable insight into property law, land use, and the socio-economic systems of Burgundy under feudal rule.
Condition
Excellent preservation, with text clear and legible. Framed for protection and display, with minimal signs of wear. The attached English translation enhances accessibility and understanding of its historical content.
Dimensions
Frame:
Height: 16 in
Width: 12 in
Age
1459–1462 CE
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