Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

tenant-in-chief

noun

/ˈtɛnənt ɪn tʃiːf/

Definition

A tenant-in-chief is a person or entity that holds land directly from the sovereign or the crown, especially in the context of feudal law.

Examples

The knight served as a tenant-in-chief, fulfilling his duties to the king.
In medieval England, many barons were tenants-in-chief of the king.
The land was leased to the tenant-in-chief, who managed it on behalf of the crown.

Meaning

In historical terms, a tenant-in-chief is someone who has land granted to them directly by a king or ruling authority, and they are responsible for providing military service or other obligations in return for that land.