Scutage

Scutage, also known as escuage, was a tax paid in lieu of military service by a feudal vassal to his lord. Primarily associated with medieval England and France, scutage effectively allowed a tenant-in-chief, who owed military service to the crown (or another lord), to buy his way out of that obligation. The lord, in turn, could use the revenue generated by scutage to hire mercenary soldiers, forming a more professional and often more reliable fighting force than that provided by the sometimes-reluctant feudal levies.

The practice arose due to several factors, including the changing nature of warfare, the increasing expense of equipping knights for service, and the inherent difficulties in coordinating feudal armies over extended periods. Serving in the lord’s army could be disruptive to a vassal’s own estate management and income.

Scutage became increasingly common in England under Henry II, particularly during his campaigns in France. Its frequent imposition contributed to growing resentment among the English barons and was a point of contention that ultimately fueled the demands codified in Magna Carta in 1215. Clause 12 of Magna Carta stated that scutage could only be levied with the “common counsel” of the realm, a significant step towards limiting the king's power to raise revenue without the consent of the barons.

While intended as a substitute for military service, scutage also became a significant source of revenue for the crown, often more predictable and manageable than relying on uncertain feudal obligations. It was eventually superseded by other forms of taxation, especially during the reigns of the later Plantagenet kings, as the feudal system declined and standing armies became more prevalent.