Lehn

in medieval Germany a landholding (or other source of income) granted to an individual on condition of military or administrative service.

Initially the term “lehn” was frequently used in the same sense as benefice (that is, it designated a conditional grant for a period of time). In the 12th century it began to mean primarily a hereditary grant and first of all a grant within the class of feudal lords (a fief). As lehns were granted, the hierarchical system of feudal land tenure took definitive shape in Germany. In the historical literature, the term “lehn” is often used to designate analogous forms of feudal property in other countries as well.