The terms ‘serf’ and ‘villein’ are often used interchangeably, but they do have distinct meanings rooted in the feudal system of medieval Europe. A serf was a type of peasant who was bound to the land they worked on, and they were considered unfree laborers. This meant that they could not leave the land without the lord’s permission and were subject to various obligations, such as working a certain number of days for the lord or paying rents in kind or labor.
On the other hand, a villein was a specific category of serf who enjoyed a bit more legal rights and privileges compared to other serfs. Villeins typically had a fixed allocation of land that they could cultivate for their own use, although they still owed labor and dues to their lord. In some regions and periods, villeins could buy their freedom or negotiate better terms with their lords.
In summary, while all villeins were serfs, not all serfs were villeins. The main distinction lies in the degree of rights and privileges each held, with villeins enjoying somewhat more favorable conditions than regular serfs.