The Seigneurial System

1
The Seigneurial System

• Landholding in New France

2
Roman Connection

• The Roman conquered both Britain and France
  (Gaul)
• The Gauls were fierce, independent fighters who
  died rather than submit to Roman rule
• The Brits did submit to Roman rule, thereby
  preserving the lives of their people

3
The Grid System

• Because the Romans were more accepted in Britain,
  they brought in new technology and new ideas
• One of these was the grid system of landholding
• This system was possible because they introduced
  their method of irrigation

4
What About the Gauls?

• Because the Gauls would not submit to the Romans
  they were treated very harshly even being used
  as gladiators in the Roman theatre
• The Romans did not spend much time developing
  this region, only building what was essential
  roads, bridges, etc,
• The Gauls (now the French) therefore had to come
  up with their own method of landholding without
  the benefit of Roman technology

5
Enter the Seigneurial System

• It was understood that each farm (roture) needed
  access to water
• The only water available was from the river
• Therefore each farm had to border the river
• So, they split the land up in long, thin strips,
  each one having a small border on the river

6
Layout of a Seigneurie
The king, through the governor, would grant a
large tract of land to a worthy individual.
Worth was based on wealth, power and social
position within the colony. At first only minor
nobles could become seigneurs, but later wealthy
habitants, church officials, and military
officers were also welcomed as landowners.
7
The new seigneur would first select a piece of
land for himself usually the largest and best
land. Often he selected land either in the
middle of the seigneurie to better keep an eye
on his tenants, or as far upriver as possible so
as to get the cleanest water. He then divided up
the remainder of the land into ROTURES, or farms
and set about finding HABITANTS, or farmers to
rent out the land
8
Within one year of settlement, the houses had to
be built and within three years the property had
to be cleared and ready for farming. Houses were
placed along the river to make it easier to get
water into the house, to provide easy access to
transportation, and to allow the neighbours to
interact more readily with each other.
9
The seigneur also had to provide a church and a
flour mill for the use of the habitants.
Legally, only Catholics were allowed to live in
the colony, so the churches were, of course,
Catholic. The flour mill was to grind wheat into
flour for use by the habitants. For each 10 bags
ground, the seigneur was owed one. Both the
church and the mill were usually built with
corvee labour.
10
The Governor of the colony built major roadways
to connect larger towns and cities. The Seigneur
was required to provide all the habitants with
access to that road, either by boat or by road.
Roads and a ferry would therefore become part of
the seigneurie.
11
The land of the individual roture was generally
planted with wheat or other grain crops, while
the rest was left as pasture for the livestock.
Near the house would be a small orchard and a
large vegetable garden with a tobacco patch in
the corner.
Life as an habitant was far better than that of a
peasant in France. Generally habitants were well
treated, had plenty to eat and could, through
hard work, rise to a position of importance in
the colony.
12
Rights and Responsibilities

• of the Seigneur and Habitant

13
Rights of the Seigneur

• Trade with the Native people, fish, hunt
• Receive rental payments from the habitants
• Have an annual festival held in his honour
• Receive CORVEE from the habitants
• Assistance from the governor when building roads
  or settling disputes with the habitants
• Fief and Manor

14
Rights of the Habitant

• Live, hunt, farm and fish on their rental
  property
• Access to the church, mill, roads and river
• Schooling
• Hospitals
• Social welfare
• Central protective barrier
• Access to the lower court
• Pass on the rental to sons or daughters
• Leave whenever they wanted, provided the rent was
  paid

15
Responsibilities of the Seigneur

• Find the settlers to live on the land
• Do a detailed survey of the land and report to
  the governor and king
• Build a flour mill, central protective barrier,
  church, roads, ferry (if required)
• Form a lower court
• Collect and pay taxes to the governor
• Advise the king of any minerals found
• Conserve oak trees
• Leave sandbars open for fishermen
• Give land to the king if/when he needed it

16
Responsibilities of the Habitant

• Construct a house within 1 year
• Clear and cultivate land within 3 years
• Pay rent and taxes
• Pay a portion of all produce to seigneur
• 10 of all grain milled, fish caught, meat
  hunted, etc.
• Deliver corvee
• Hold an annual festival in the seigneurs honour
• Be properly respectful to the nobility (fief and
  manor)