subinfeudation

The sublease of a portion of a feudal estate by a vassal to a subtenant who pays fealty to the vassal.

The lands so leased.

The process, in feudal tenure, where the stipendiary or feudatory, considering himself as substantially the owner, began to imitate the example of his sovereign by carving out portions of the benefice or feud, to be held of himself by some other person, on terms and conditions similar to those of the original grant: a continued chain of successive dependencies was thus established, connecting each stipendiary, or vassal as he was termed, with his immediate superior or lord. See Statute of Quia Emptores, under statute.

The fief or tenancy thus established.

Also subfeudation.

The granting of lands by inferior lords to their dependents, to be held by themselves by feudal tenure.

Subordinate tenancy; undertenancy.

The practice by which tenants, holding land under the king or other superior lord, carved out new and distinct tenures in their turn by subletting or alienating a part of their lands.