Understanding Fermage: A Medieval Fee System

Fermage is a type of fee or rent that was paid by peasants to the lord of the manor in medieval Europe. It was paid in kind, usually in the form of agricultural products such as wheat, barley, or other crops. The lord of the manor would receive a portion of the peasants' harvest as fermage, which was used to support the lord's own household and servants.

Fermage was a key part of the feudal system, which was a set of social and economic relationships that existed in medieval Europe. Under this system, the lord of the manor owned the land and the peasants who worked on it, and in exchange for their labor, the peasants received protection, justice, and the right to work the land. The fermage was one of the ways that the lord of the manor was able to maintain control over the peasants and ensure that they continued to work the land.

Fermage is still used today in some contexts, such as in the context of agricultural leases or rental agreements. However, it is no longer a common practice and has largely been replaced by other forms of rent and fee arrangements.