Manumission

Manumission Definition

Manumission refers to the various mechanisms or devices employed across different societies to liberate enslaved persons, existing alongside the overarching system of slavery which represents the most restrictive form of control exerted by one group over another. These methods for emancipation were not exclusive but varied depending on the social context; for instance, slaves could be freed upon the demise of their master, through the acquisition of a relationship as a kept sexual partner or concubine, or as a consequence of providing military service to their owners.