The Seigneurial System of New France

The Seigneurial System A system of land distribution first introduced in the North American colonies of New France in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu, a French clergyman and politician. King Louis, XIV owned all of the land in New France. The land was maintained by the seigneur (landlord). Seigneurs (landlords) were vassals to the king who granted the seigneurs deeds (legal claims) to the land. Seigneurs were often nobles, and clergy members from France. A vassal is a person granted the use of land in return for military service to a lord.

The Seigneurial System The seigneur divided the land among his tenants. The tenants were known as the habitants. The habitants cleared the land, built houses and other buildings and farmed the land. The habitants paid taxes to the seigneur and were usually required to work for their seigneur for three days per year, often building roads.

The Seigneurial System

The Seigneurial System New France was a rural society and a farming community which was established along the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence was the main transportation route, and every resident of New France wanted land along the river. Seigneuries were divided into long narrow strips of land. Seigneuries bordering the St. Lawrence River had a section of river front which extended back into uncleared bush away from the river. As the land was passed through generations, the strips were subdivided. When the land along the St.Lawrence was completely used, the colony started a new row of seigneuries behind the first. Roads were built to connect rows.

Seigneurial System

The Seigneurial System Seigneuries were divided into a number of areas. There was a common area on the shore of the river which was used for farming and considered prime land. Behind his common area was the seigneur’s estate. Then behind the seigneurs estate was one or more sets of farmland.

The Seigneurial System

The Seigneurial System The seigneurs were never the real owners of their lands. The lands were owned by the King in exchange for services. The king owned all of the land in New France. He granted the use of the land to people who became seigneurs then divided the land into smaller lots and brought in settlers called habitants to farm it. The seigneurs and the habitants had specific duties. If their duties were not performed, the land could be taken away from them.

Duties of the Seigneur Subdivide the signeury into 32-hectare parcels and grant land to the habitants. Build a house and flour mill Contribute to the construction of a church Report to the Intendent information about the population of the seigneury, the amount of land under cultivation and the dues paid. Note: the Intendent at that time was Jean Talon – he served an administrative role under King Louis XIV and was in charge of justice, public order, finance / economic development.

Duties of the Habitant Build a house and farm the land Pay taxes and dues to the seigneur Perform unpaid labour for the seigneur a few days each year Give a percentage of production (fish, crops, livestock) to the seigneur each year

Madeleine de Roybon d’Allonne Women were allowed to hold seigneurial land. Widowed women would often inherit their husband’s land, and would either actively maintain it on their own or wait until a son was old enough to farm it. The first European woman to own land in what is now Ontario was Madeleine d’Allonne. She was the daughter of a French nobleman and friend to Robert La Salle, a French explorer who granted her a seigneury. Upon this seigneury, Madeleine built a house, outbuildings, a trading post, grew crops and raised cattle. Madeleine was the first woman who spoke out in support of the rights of settlers.

Madeleine de Roybon D’Allonne

The Advantages of the Seigneurial System Facilitated communication and transportation Encouraged trade Easy access to water Ensured the best possible defense of a colony

Who benefitted from the Seigneurial System? Though the seigneurs gained status, the seigneurial system greatly benefitted the habitants. Habitants gained increased independence, and wealth. Land was plentiful and habitants were allowed to cultivate as much as they could farm. Taxes paid to the seigneurs were low. Close proximity to the St. Lawrence River allowed habitants to participate in the fur trade, which further increased their income and freedom.

The King’s Road In 1706, the Grand Council of New France ordered that a road be built to connect the settlements along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. This road is now known as The Chemin du Roy (King’s Road / King’s Highway). It is the oldest roadway in Canada. Work began in 1731 and was completed in 1737. When completed it was 7.4 metres, over 280 kilometres long and crossed 37 seigneuries. The Chemin du Roy links New France's three largest cities: Montréal, Trois-Rivières and Québec City.