Legal Definitions - nonagium

Nonagium refers to a historical practice where a ninth portion of a deceased person's movable assets was allocated, often to the local church or clergy, for religious or charitable uses. This practice was sometimes also known as nonage.

Here are some examples to illustrate this historical concept:

• Imagine a prosperous farmer in 14th-century England, Sir Reginald, who passes away. His estate includes various personal belongings: a herd of cattle, farming implements, stored grain, and household furnishings. According to the custom of nonagium, one-ninth of the value of these movable assets would be calculated and then transferred to the local parish church. This contribution would be used by the clergy for purposes such as maintaining the church building, aiding the poor, or funding religious services.

  This example illustrates nonagium as a specific fraction (one-ninth) of a decedent's personal property (cattle, implements, grain, furnishings) being directed to the parish clergy for pious uses (church maintenance, charity, services).

• Consider a successful textile merchant named Elara in a bustling medieval European city. When Elara dies unexpectedly, her estate includes a substantial inventory of fabrics, dyes, finished garments, and personal jewelry. Before the remaining estate could be distributed to her heirs, the executors would be required to set aside a nonagium – one-ninth of the total value of these personal, movable goods. This portion would then be delivered to the parish church where Elara worshipped, contributing to its operational costs or charitable endeavors.

  Here, nonagium is demonstrated as a mandatory deduction (one-ninth) from a deceased person's personal property (inventory, jewelry) that is then given to the church for its functions.

• In a historical legal treatise from the 13th century discussing estate administration, it might be noted that "it is customary in certain dioceses for a nonagium to be levied upon the personal chattels of the deceased, payable to the ecclesiastical authorities." This indicates a recognized, albeit not universally applied, legal or customary obligation for a specific fraction of an estate's movable wealth to be designated for religious purposes.

  This example highlights nonagium as a customary or legally recognized levy (a ninth part) on a deceased person's personal property (chattels) intended for religious institutions (ecclesiastical authorities), demonstrating its historical legal context.