Baron by tenure

A baron by tenure in England and Wales (sometimes also called a feudal baron) is (or was) the owner of land, held of the crown not only by knight service, but by the service of being one of the king's barons.

The land in question was usually an "honour", consisting of many manors, included many that were subinfeuded). In the period before barons were identified by having been summoned by Parliament (baronies by writ) or created by letters patent, such persons were the great lords of the realm of England.

The holders of most lordships held by barony were summoned to Parliament by writ because of their importance, but their status did not require that. The holder of a barony by tenure is best described as "Lord of A" or "Feudal Lord of A", rather than as "Baron A" or "Lord A".

Marcher lords in Wales often held their lordships by right of conquest and were thus feudal barons.

Baronies by tenure became obsolete (or at least obsolescent) with the abolition of feudal tenures during the English Civil War, as confirmed by statute after the Restoration. Any subsequent claim of survival is probably best regarded as an anachronism.