Tithe

The term tithe (cent, cent, tithe, tithe) is derived from the Latin "decenia" and refers to a tax of around ten per cent (a tenth) in the form of money or often also in kind (harvest quantities). The tax had to be paid to religious (mainly the Roman Catholic Church or its monasteries) or secular (landlords and rulers) institutions. A tithe is already mentioned in the Bible in the 5th book of Moses (Deuteronomy) as the yield from grain, oil and wine, as well as from the first birth of cattle and sheep. Tithe payments were common until the late Middle Ages towards the end of the 15th century. In the legal history of the Middle Ages, the tithe farm (Zehenthof) was the farm to which the right was often transferred on a time-limited lease and to which the tithe (Zehent) due was to be paid to the lord of the manor in the agreed amount or form.

Zehent - Abgabe von Bauern an Geistlichen Herrn / in Württemberg 1820

Many mostly very old wine estates or agricultural businesses with a long tradition in German-speaking countries are located on the site of former tithe farms or the term is still used today in numerous farm names and field names. Prominent examples in Germany are the four wineries Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau), Freiherr von Gleichenstein (Baden), Zehnthof Familie Weickert (Franconia) and Zehntkeller (Franconia), the single vineyard Centgrafenberg (Franconia), and in Austria the three wineries Hirsch Johannes (Kamptal), Lenz Moser AG (Kremstal) and Stift Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria). Tithe also has an important ritual significance in the production of kosher wine. See also under Customs in viticulture.

Picture left: Public domain, link
Picture right: By Johann Baptist Pflug, Public domain, Link

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Tithe

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