Zsellériarend

Zsellériarend is a term that appears in historical Hungarian contexts, often related to land ownership and feudal obligations. Its precise meaning and usage can be nuanced, varying across different periods and regions of Hungary. Generally, it refers to a type of land tenure or a system of obligations associated with agricultural land, particularly within manorial estates.

The term is thought to derive from "zsellér," meaning a cottager or a person holding a small plot of land, often dependent on a larger landowner. Zsellériarend, therefore, describes the social and economic arrangement governing these smaller landholders and their relationship with the manor lord. This could include specific duties, such as providing labor (robot), paying rent in kind or cash, or adhering to certain customary practices.

Understanding zsellériarend is crucial for historical research into Hungarian agrarian history, social structures, and the evolution of landholding patterns. It sheds light on the lives of a significant portion of the rural population who were not serfs but held a distinct status within the feudal hierarchy. The specifics of zsellériarend agreements would have been determined by local custom and the particularities of each estate.