Seigneur facts for kids

A Seigneur (pronounced "sen-YUR") was a special title used a long time ago, during the Middle Ages. In France, a Seigneur was like a local lord. They were given a piece of land, called a fief, by the king or queen. With this land came many rights and responsibilities over the people living on it and the property itself.

This system of having Seigneurs was known as a seigneurie. The rights that a Seigneur had were also called seigneurie. A Seigneur was often called a seigneur justice because they had the power to make decisions and enforce rules within their land.

The End of Seigneurs in France

The system of Seigneurs in France changed a lot after the French Revolution. On August 4, 1789, France officially ended its old feudal system. This meant that the role of a Seigneur no longer existed in the same way. After this, the title was mostly used only by royal families or sovereign princes.

Seigneurs in Canada

Did you know that parts of Canada also had Seigneurs? The area once known as New France, which is now part of Canada, used a similar system. This seigneurial system was in place from 1627 until 1854.

Images for kids

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  Sophie Masson, seigneuresse of Terrebonne, Canada

See also

In Spanish: Señor para niños