A feudal tenure in medieval England where religious institutions held land in exchange for religious services rather than military or financial obligations.
From Old French franc meaning 'free' and almoigne meaning 'alms' or 'charitable giving.' This describes a specifically English feudal arrangement where the Church received free land in return for spiritual services.
Frankalmoign was the medieval Church's genius loophole—while everyone else had to provide knights or taxes to the king, the Church just had to pray for his soul, meaning the Church accumulated vast wealth in land without military obligations. This system lasted for centuries and was a major reason the Church became so wealthy and politically powerful in medieval Europe.
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