Legal Definitions - geld

Geld refers to a historical form of tax or tribute that was paid to the monarch in England during the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods. It was typically levied on land or property and served as a significant source of revenue for the Crown.

Property that was subject to this tax was described as geldable.

• Example 1: A Medieval Landowner's Obligation

  Imagine a prosperous Anglo-Saxon landowner in the 10th century who possessed several large tracts of farmland. Each year, royal officials would assess the extent and value of his holdings. Based on this assessment, the landowner would be required to pay a specific amount of geld directly to the king's treasury.

  This example illustrates geld as a direct tax on land, paid by an individual landowner to the monarch, reflecting its historical purpose as a royal revenue source.

• Example 2: A Village's Collective Contribution

  Consider a Norman village in the 11th century, shortly after the Conquest. The village collectively held a certain amount of arable land. The royal administration would impose a geld assessment on the entire village based on its total land area. The villagers, through their local lord or reeve, would then gather the necessary funds from their individual holdings to pay this collective tax to the king.

  This example shows geld being levied on a community rather than just an individual, highlighting its application as a broad land tax that contributed to the royal treasury.

• Example 3: Funding Royal Projects or Defense

  During a period of heightened military threat, such as Viking raids, or when a new royal castle needed to be constructed, an Anglo-Saxon king might declare a special levy of geld across his kingdom. Landowners and communities would be required to contribute this tax as a means of financing these urgent governmental or military endeavors.

  This demonstrates geld as a flexible financial instrument used by the monarch not just for regular revenue but also for specific, often urgent, expenditures like defense or infrastructure.