jobbágyföld

Jobbágyföld refers to the land owned and worked by a jobbágy, a social class in medieval and early modern Hungary. These were unfree peasants who were tied to the land and owed various obligations to their lord, typically a nobleman or the church. The jobbágyföld was not owned by the jobbágy in the modern sense; rather, they had the right to cultivate it and live on it in exchange for fulfilling their duties. These duties often included providing a portion of their harvest, performing labor services on the lord's demesne, and paying various fees or taxes. The size and nature of the jobbágyföld could vary, but it was usually a parcel of land sufficient for the jobbágy's family to subsist on, along with their obligations. The lord retained ultimate ownership and could grant, sell, or transfer the land along with the jobbágy population. The system of jobbágyföld was a fundamental aspect of the manorial economy and the social structure of historical Hungary. It evolved over centuries, with periods of both increased and decreased freedom for the jobbágy. The abolition of serfdom in the 19th century eventually led to the transformation of jobbágyföld into privately owned land.