What is Hidage? Understanding this Medieval Tax System

Hidage (also spelled hideage or hydeage) is an archaic term that was used in medieval England to describe a type of tax or payment made by landowners to their lord or king. The word "hidage" comes from the Old English word "hides," which referred to a unit of land measurement.

In the feudal system of medieval England, landowners were required to pay a certain amount of money or goods to their lord as a form of rent or tribute. This payment was known as "hidage." The amount of hidage that a landowner had to pay was based on the number of hides of land they owned.

Hidage was an important source of income for the nobility and the king, and it played a significant role in the feudal system of medieval England. However, the term is no longer used today, and it has largely been replaced by other terms such as "rent" or "taxes."