hidage

The Hidage is a medieval English document that lists the hidated manors and estates of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom, primarily from the 9th century. It provides a snapshot of land ownership and taxation potential at a particular moment in history, though its exact dating and purpose are subjects of scholarly debate. The document likely served as a basis for calculating royal revenues, military levies, or other forms of tribute owed to the king.

It is not a single, unified text but rather a compilation of several lists, often referred to as the "Old English Hidage" and the "Revised Hidage." These lists assign a hidage value, a numerical assessment of land productivity or taxable capacity, to various settlements and regions. The hidage unit itself, the hide, is believed to have represented a unit of land sufficient to support a household, though its precise size varied geographically and over time.

The hidage values recorded in the document are not necessarily reflective of actual land area but rather an administrative assessment. The geographical scope of the Hidage varies across its different versions, with some focusing on specific regions or kingdoms within Anglo-Saxon England. Despite its complexities and the ongoing scholarly discussion surrounding its interpretation, the Hidage remains an invaluable primary source for understanding the economic and administrative structures of early medieval England, offering insights into royal power, land tenure, and the organization of the kingdom.