Lordship

Abstract

René de Challant was the lord of lands some of which were well over 500 km apart from each other. This required a formidable organization of the practice of lordship, especially in the areas of revenue collection, account keeping, and the administration of justice. Valangin in particular, as a seigniory over which René was committed to demonstrating his sovereignty, demanded significant attention. René left detailed instructions concerning the administration of the barony of Beaufremont. Castellany accounts from Châtillon in the Valle d’Aosta and correspondence from Virieu in Bugey illustrate René’s lordship over those places. René sometimes questioned the performance of officials whom he delegated to oversee his fiefs, occasionally interacting directly with his subjects as a way of keeping his officers in check.