Formerly, a payment or tribute of arms or military accouterments, or the best beast, or chattel, due to the lord on the death of a tenant; in modern use, a customary tribute of goods or chattels to the lord of the fee, paid on the decease of a tenant.
A payment which a feudal lord may claim from the possessions of a dead serf or other tenant, essentially a death tax. There are various forms of heriot. Generally if a tenant dies in battle the heriot is forgiven. (MEDIEV-L. Medieval Terms) A death-duty to the lord; in the case of a villein on a manor, usually the best beast. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 230) Obligation of unfree families to give up the best ox or livestock or cash equivalent on the death of the tenant. (Waugh, Scott. England in the Reign of Edward III, 238) Related terms: Buteil / Mortmain / Meilleur Catel / Mainmorte
best beast, or value in money, owed to landlord after death of a tenant.
the best beast, given to the Lord of the Manor on the death of a tenant
the duty owed the lord on the death of a tenant (like relief)
A feudal duty or tribute due under English law to a lord on the death of a tenant.
A payment which a feudal lord could claim from the possessions of a dead serf or other tenant; essentially a death tax. Generally, however, if a tenant died in battle, the heriot was forgiven.
The feudal superior, in certain cases, was entitled to the best horse of the vassel, in name of Heriot, or Herezeld.
payment made on the death of a tenant
1) A tax paid by a murderer to the family of the deceased. 2) Death duty, usually "best beast" or other chattel, paid to a lord.
Fine due to the Lord of the Manor on the death of a tenant
A death duty paid by villeins and free tenants to their Lord, often consisting of the dead man's best beast or chattel.
due to Lord on death of a tenant - usually his best beast.
Heriot was the right of a lord in feudal Europe to seize a serf's best horse and or clothing upon his death. It arose from the tradition of the lord loaning a serf a horse or armour or weapons to fight so that when the serf died the lord would rightfully reclaim his property. When knights as a class emerged and were later able to acquire their own fighting instruments, the lord continued to claim rights to property upon death, extending sometimes to everyone not just the fighting knights.