Capitulary of Lestinnes:
Appropriation of Church Property for Military Purposes, 743
Temporary confiscation of church property for reasons of military necessity was
tantamount to a form of land tax on that property.
We have also decreed with the advice of the servants of God and of our Christian
people, on account of threats of war and the attacks of other peoples who are on all
sides, that we shall take temporarily, with God's indulgence, for the support of our army
some part of the property of the church to be distributed as precaria for a rent. This
will be done on condition that every year there shall be paid to the church or monastery
one solidus from every holding, i.e., twelve denarii; and it shall be done in such
a way that if he who receives the land should die, the church shall regain its property.
And further, if necessity should demand it, the king may order the precarium to be renewed
and surrendered again. And it shall be carefully observed that the churches or monasteries
whose property has been granted as precaria do not suder penury or poverty; but the whole
possession shall be restored to the Church and house of God, if their poverty should
demand it.
Source:
J. P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae Cursus Completus, (Paris, 1862), Vol . XCVI, p.
1504; reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval
Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York:
Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 358-359.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
This text is part of the Internet
Medieval Sourcebook. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright.
Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational
purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No
permission is granted for commercial use.
© Paul Halsall, October 1998
[email protected]
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 12 April 2024 [CV]
|
