First, benefices conceded for all kinds of services, and as a mode of paying salary;
Secondly, larger proprietors usurp the lands adjoining their own, and bestow them as benefices on their subordinates;
Thirdly, the conversion of a great number of allodial lands into benefices, by the practice of recommendation.
Origin and meaning of this practice.
Permanence of freeholds, especially in certain parts of the Frankish monarchy.
Tributary lands.
Their origin and nature.
Their rapid extension: its causes.
General view of the condition of territorial property, from the sixth to the eleventh century:
First, different conditions of territorial property;
Secondly, the individual dependence of territorial property;
Thirdly, the stationary condition of territorial wealth.
Why the system of beneficiary property, that is to say, the feudal system, was necessary to the formation of modern society and of powerful states.
Donors Of Benefices.
Kings were not the sole donors of benefices; all the large proprietors gave them. Many leaders of bands of men were originally united under the conduct of the king; these chiefs became subsequently proprietors of large allodial estates. Portions of these were conceded as benefices to their immediate associates. Afterwards, they became large incumbents, and gave also as benefices portions of the benefice which they held from the king. Hence arose the practice of sub-enfeoffment. In the capitularies, we perpetually meet with the words, vassalli vassallorum nostrorum.
We find, during the whole of this period, even under Charlemagne, numerous examples of benefices held otherwise than from the king. Two letters of Eginhard expressly mention the concession, by way of benefice, of certain portions of royal benefices.
It is the opinion of Mably, that other persons than the king began to give benefices only after the reign of Charles Martel. This mistake arises from his not having apprehended that the relation of the chief to his associate, which afterwards grew into that of lord to his vassal, was at first a purely personal relation, entirely independent of and anterior to any concession of benefices. It is impossible to determine at what particular time the conferring of benefices became connected with the relation of the beneficiary to his patron. This was probably almost immediately after the territorial establishment.
Character Of Benefices.
The number of benefices was soon very considerable, and became greater every day.