Legal Definitions - theolonio

Theolonio is not an acronym.

Historically, theolonio refers to a toll, tax, or duty levied on goods, merchandise, or sometimes persons, as they passed through a specific territory, crossed a bridge, used a road, or entered a port or market. These charges were common in medieval Europe and were often collected by local lords, monarchs, or municipal authorities to fund the maintenance of infrastructure (like roads, bridges, or harbors) or to provide protection for travelers and merchants.

• Example 1: Merchant Caravan Toll

  Imagine a caravan of silk merchants in the 13th century traveling through a mountainous region. To use a well-maintained road and a sturdy bridge constructed by a local duke, they are required to pay a fee for each cartload of silk. This fee contributes to the upkeep of the infrastructure and the security provided by the duke's guards along the route.

  This scenario illustrates a theolonio because it is a charge imposed on goods (the silk) for the right to transit through a specific territory (the duke's lands) and utilize its facilities (the road and bridge).

• Example 2: Port Entry Duty

  Consider a trading ship laden with spices arriving at a bustling port city in the 14th century. Before the ship is permitted to dock and unload its valuable cargo, the captain must pay a specific duty to the city's customs officials. This payment helps fund the maintenance of the harbor, its lighthouses, and the city's naval defenses.

  This payment represents a theolonio as it is a duty levied on goods (the spices) for the privilege of entering and utilizing a controlled area (the port) and its associated services.

• Example 3: Market Access Tax

  Picture a farmer in the 12th century bringing his harvest of wheat and livestock from his fields outside the city walls into the main market square. At the city gate, he is required to pay a small tax based on the quantity of his produce before being allowed to sell his goods within the city's jurisdiction.

  This tax is a form of theolonio because it is a levy on goods (wheat and livestock) for the right to bring them into and circulate within a defined territory (the city) for commercial purposes.