Land transactions within rural society in the Middle Rhine Valley (ca. 1400–1535)

ABSTRACT The paper deals with families in villages on the bank of the river Rhine in the southwest of Germany (Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Mittelrhein). Starting with the observation that land changed hands often, although the situation in the Middle Rhine valley favoured tenants – wine was produced for export, personal serfdom was rare, and hereditary leasehold was typical for the region and landlords rarely interfered – I ask for the reasons why. The main reason for the vivid fluctuation was the importance of credit for the wine-growing society. Almost every piece of land was mortgaged. The debts could only be paid back after harvest when the wine was sold. Credits and also loans for investment could be secured on land only. The second most important reason for land change is inheritance rules. Property had to be divided among the children. Female and male children inherited equal shares, as soon as one of their parents died. Land was sold, burdened, leased, shared, swapped and divided – and it changed hands quite often without any hindrance. It is obvious that families were loaded with heavy burdens despite the good conditions for tenants. But, the high mobility of land is no proof for economic depression; it is a by–effect of this very specialised economic system. In the fifteenth century the ecological and economical system was fragile, but it was just working. So, mobile land could be seen as a sign of a vivid economic system in the fifteenth century and not as a sign of crisis.