Frankalmoin Law and Legal Definition
Frankalmoin is a term of French law that means “free alms.” It is a type of tenure that existed under the Anglo–Saxon law. It refers to the spiritual tenure by which a religious institution held land with a general duty to pray for the donor. This type of tenure implied an indefinite promise to pray for the soul of the donor. This tenure differed from the tenure by divine service, which required specific church services, such as a certain number of masses or alms distributions. The land held in frankalmoin is called Alms land. Gifts to religious institutions in free alms were defined first as gifts to God, then to the patron saint of the religious house, and finally to those serving God in the specific house.
Frankalmoin is also reffered to as almoign, almoin, free alms or libera eleemosyna.
