Papal taxation of the Castilian monasteries in the Middle Ages

Abstract

The Castilian monasteries were subject to papal taxation from the end of the 11th century, through the census payment in exchange for the pope’s protection or spiritual exemption. As with the secular clergy, during the 13th and 14th centuries, new taxes were imposed and these payments became widespread. All of these taxes affected the monasteries as well as their superiors (abbots, priors) and the monk officials.

The scarce and disperse documental information, here collected, provides evidence of the payment of such taxes as the census, the common services, the annates, the spoils and fruits during vacancies, the tenths (income taxes) and subsidies or the procurations. It also shows the difficulties in collecting the said taxes, the opposition and conflicts, the agreements and compromises reached between the monasteries and the papal collector or the Apostolic Camera, between the secular and regular clergy in each diocese concerning the distribution of the allotted amounts.