CARUCAGE Meaning and
Definition
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Carucage was a medieval tax in England that was levied on carucates, units of land measurement. The term "carucate" originally referred to the amount of land that could be plowed in a single year with a team of eight oxen. Carucage, therefore, was a tax imposed on the holders of such land.
The carucage tax was first introduced in the early 12th century during the reign of King Henry I, and it continued to be used by subsequent monarchs until the mid-13th century. Initially, carucage was a variable tax, meaning that the amount payable was determined by the landowner's ability to pay and the productivity of the land. However, over time, it became a fixed tax amount, often set by the king or his advisors.
Carucage was collected in various ways, including through assessments made by royal officials or local representatives. The revenue generated from this tax was primarily used to fund the king's military campaigns, to maintain castles and fortifications, and for general administrative expenses.
While carucage was originally intended as a tax on agricultural land, it later came to be imposed on non-agricultural land as well. The tax was seen as burdensome by many landholders, and its unpopularity, along with the introduction of other taxes, eventually led to its decline and replacement by other forms of taxation.
Overall, carucage was a significant medieval tax in England that played a crucial role in the financial affairs of the crown and the administration of the realm.
Common Misspellings for CARUCAGE
- xarucage
- varucage
- farucage
- darucage
- czrucage
- csrucage
- cwrucage
- cqrucage
- caeucage
- caducage
- cafucage
- catucage
- ca5ucage
- ca4ucage
- carycage
- carhcage
- carjcage
- caricage
- car8cage
- car7cage
Etymology of CARUCAGE
The word "carucage" is derived from the Old French term "carucage" which originated in the 14th century. It comes from the Latin word "caruca" meaning "plow". In medieval times, a carucage was a tax imposed on landowners based on the number of plows or teams of oxen they possessed for cultivating their land. This tax was used to fund military expeditions or other war-related expenses.
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