VAVASSOR (Med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. valvassor, vasvassor; Fr. vavassour, vavassor, vasseur, &c.)  , in its most general sense a mediate vassal, i.e. one holding a fief under a vassal . The word was, however, applied at various times to the most diverse ranks in the feudal hierarchy, being used practically as the synonym of vassal . Thus tenants-in-chief of the crown are described by the Emperor Conrad (Lax Lamgob. lib. iii. tit . 8, § 4) as valvassores majores as distinguished from mediate tenants, valvassores minores . Gradually the term without qualification was found convenient for describing sub-vassals, tenants-in-chief being called capitaneior bermes (see BARON); Its implication, however, still varied in different places and times . Bracton (lib. i. cap . 8, § 2) ranks the magnates seu valvassores between barons and knights; for him they are " men of great dignity," and in this order they are found in a charter of Henry II . (1166) . But in the regestum of Philip Augustus (fol . 158) we find that five vavassors are reckoned as the equivalent of one knight . Finally, Du Cange quotes two charters, one of 1187, another of 1349, in which vavassors are clearly distinguished from nobles . The derivation of the word vavassor is very obscure .

The fanciful

interpretation of Bracton, vas sortitum ad valetudinem (a vessel chosen to honour), may be at once rejected . Others would derive it from tarsal ad valves (at the folding-doors, valvae), i.e. servants of the royal antechamber . Du Cange, with more justice, regards it merely as an obscure variant of vassus . (W . A .