Legal Definitions - servitium socae

SERVITIUM SOCAE

Servitium socae is a Latin term that means "service of the plow." It refers to a type of feudal tenure in which a tenant farmer was required to provide labor services to their lord, specifically plowing and cultivating the lord's land.

For example, a tenant farmer might be required to provide servitium socae by plowing and planting crops on their lord's land for a certain number of days each year. In exchange, the farmer would be allowed to keep a portion of the crops they grew.

Another example would be a tenant farmer who was required to provide servitium socae by repairing and maintaining the lord's plows and other farming equipment. This type of service was known as "service of the plowwright."

Servitium socae was a common form of feudal tenure in medieval Europe. It was a way for lords to ensure that their land was being cultivated and maintained, while also providing a source of labor for their own needs. The examples illustrate how tenant farmers were required to provide specific services related to plowing and farming in exchange for the use of the lord's land. This system helped to establish a hierarchy of power and control in feudal society.