Legal Definitions - decimae garbales

Decimae garbales refers to a historical form of tithe, specifically the "grain tithes" or "tithe sheaves." Under ecclesiastical law, particularly prevalent in medieval Europe, it was the right of the parish church or its rector to claim one-tenth of the harvested grain from agricultural lands within their parish. This was a significant source of income for the church, representing a portion of the agricultural produce rather than a monetary payment.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of decimae garbales:

• Imagine a farmer in 12th-century France who has just completed the arduous task of harvesting his barley field. Before he can store the grain for his family's sustenance or sell it at the market, he is legally obligated to set aside every tenth bundle, or sheaf, of barley for the local parish church. This specific portion of his harvest, representing one-tenth of his grain yield, constitutes the decimae garbales owed to the church.

• A monastery in 14th-century England, which served as the rector for several surrounding parishes, would have kept detailed ledgers of its annual income. An entry in such a ledger might record "receipt of 200 sheaves of wheat and 150 sheaves of rye from the lands of Lord Ashworth," explicitly noting these as decimae garbales. This demonstrates how the church's right to a share of the grain harvest from specific estates was documented and formed a crucial part of its economic foundation.

• Consider a legal dispute in a 13th-century English village where a new landowner attempts to divert a larger portion of the local harvest for his own use, encroaching upon the traditional share claimed by the church. The parish priest would then assert his right to the decimae garbales, arguing that established ecclesiastical law entitled the church to one-tenth of all grain harvested within the parish boundaries, regardless of the landowner's personal claims or changes in ownership.