What process involves one vassal giving land to another, creating a new vassal?

What process involves one vassal giving land to another, creating a new vassal?

• A. Journeymen
• B. Masterpiece
• C. Apprenticeships
• D. Subinfeudation

Answer: (D)

Subinfeudation is the process where a vassal grants part of his fief to another person, creating a new vassal who owes allegiance to the first vassal, who in turn remains bound to the higher lord. This shows how landholding in feudal society could be subdivided and layered, extending loyalty down the chain of lords. The other terms relate to guild life and training—journeymen and apprenticeships describe stages of craft training, and a masterpiece is the work submitted to become a guild master—so they don’t describe how land is held or transferred to create new vassals. Subinfeudation uniquely captures the idea of a vassal creating another vassal through a land grant.

Subinfeudation is the process where a vassal grants part of his fief to another person, creating a new vassal who owes allegiance to the first vassal, who in turn remains bound to the higher lord. This shows how landholding in feudal society could be subdivided and layered, extending loyalty down the chain of lords. The other terms relate to guild life and training—journeymen and apprenticeships describe stages of craft training, and a masterpiece is the work submitted to become a guild master—so they don’t describe how land is held or transferred to create new vassals. Subinfeudation uniquely captures the idea of a vassal creating another vassal through a land grant.