Medieval city residence freed serfs from feudal lords’ claims.

Evidence

Freedom, of old, used to be the monopoly of a privileged class. By means of the cities it again took its place in society as a natural attribute of the citizen. Hereafter it was enough to reside on city soil to acquire it. Every serf who had lived for a year and a day within the city limits had it by definite right: the statute of limitations abolished all rights which his lord exercised over his person and chattels. Birth meant little. Whatever might be the mark with which it had stigmatized the infant in his cradle, it vanished in the atmosphere of the city. — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 151

Categorization

• CANDY: The ‘year and a day’ city-residence rule granting freedom is a vivid, tweetable historical detail.