Medieval Term of the Day: Scutage

Scutage
Pronunciation: \?skü-tij, ?skyü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin scutagium, from Latin scutum shield
Date: 15th century

The sum that the holder of a knight’s fee may pay his lord in lieu of military service. Sometimes used as a form of tax.
 

Filed under: Medieval History on February 15th, 2008

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2 Responses to “Medieval Term of the Day: Scutage”

  1. elizabeth chadwick, on February 16th, 2008 at 7:39 pm Said:

    Hi Steven,
    Scutage was around long before the 15thC. It’s listed in all the pipe rolls I’ve got for the reigns of Richard and John - in Latin, not English, but I would expect any barons having a conversation about it would use the common form. ‘Have you paid your scutage this year, or are you going personally?’ type of thing.

  2. stevent, on February 17th, 2008 at 12:55 pm Said:

    Thanks Elizabeth. I was kind of wondering that myself. Seems the source I pulled it from might have the date listed incorrectly.

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