L'agrarium: La charge paysanne avant le régime domanial, VIe–VIIIe siècles
Shoichi Sato
A study of the term agrarium offers rare evidence lives and legal status peasantry in pre-Carolingian era. An enormous amount raw data on this subject can be found late seventh-century manuscripts from Abbey Saint-Martin Tours. Analysis every reference to between sixth eighth centuries combination with documents leads conclusion that defined as obligation render seigneur a tenth crops produced. This its origin land tax Roman Empire imposed free tenants (coloni), whose descendants formed majority Merovingian period. These were also exempt heavy labour services such weekly corvée. The independent peasants period enjoyed far lighter burdens than those who fell into servitude second half eight century onwards.
Journal of Medieval History