The History of Carucage, a Medieval Tax on Land and Property

Carucage is a medieval tax that was levied on the value of land and other forms of property. It was introduced in England in the 12th century and was used to raise revenue for the crown. The tax was based on the value of the land, rather than the income it produced, and it was paid by the owner of the land, rather than the tenant.

The word "carucage" is derived from the Old French word "carucage," which means "a tax on land." It was used to describe a variety of different taxes that were levied on landowners, including a tax on the value of land, a tax on the number of animals owned by a landowner, and a tax on the income produced by a piece of land.

Carucage was an important source of revenue for the crown during the medieval period, and it was used to fund a variety of royal expenses, including military campaigns, the construction of castles and other buildings, and the administration of justice. The tax was collected by the king's officials, who were responsible for assessing the value of each piece of land and collecting the tax from the owner.

Over time, the carucage tax was replaced by other forms of taxation, such as the lay subsidy and the poll tax, which were based on the income or population of a particular area, rather than the value of the land. Today, the word "carucage" is no longer used in modern English, but it provides an interesting glimpse into the financial and administrative practices of medieval England.