Legal Definitions - servage

SERVAGE

Servage (sər-vij) is a historical term that refers to a type of feudal service that a serf was obligated to perform for their lord. If the serf was unable to perform the service, they would have to pay the equivalent value in kind or money.

One example of servage was when a serf was required to work on their lord's land for a certain number of days each year. Another example was when a serf had to provide their lord with a portion of their crops or livestock.

For instance, a serf might be required to work on their lord's land for three days each year. If they were unable to do so, they would have to pay the lord the equivalent value in money or goods. Alternatively, a serf might have to give their lord a portion of their crops, such as one-third of their wheat harvest.

These examples illustrate how servage was a form of feudal obligation that required serfs to provide their lords with labor or goods in exchange for protection and the use of land.