What is a medieval “tithe”?

The story behind the answer

From the Latin decima (“tenth”), it required medieval parishioners to give roughly 10% of their harvest or income to ecclesiastical authorities. This levy was backed by both canon and secular law, making it obligatory across much of Western Christendom. Its proceeds supported parish priests, church buildings, festivals, and local charity—often stored in massive tithe barns when collected in kind (grain, wool, wine).

Crucially, it differed from feudal dues owed to lords and from corvée (unpaid labor). Standardized under the Carolingians, it became a fixture of rural life and a frequent source of disputes over exemptions and assessment. Complaints about abuse and unequal burden would echo into the late Middle Ages and help fuel Reformation-era critiques.