What was ‘Tithe’?

→ Tithe was a specific religious tax levied by the Catholic Church, most notably in pre-revolutionary France.
→ It typically amounted to one-tenth (10%) of the agricultural produce or income of the common people.
→ The context of this tax was its imposition on the Third Estate (peasants and middle class), while the clergy and nobility were largely exempt from most taxes.
→ The burden of Tithes was one of the major socio-economic grievances that led to the French Revolution of 1789.
Information Booster

→ The Tithe was collected by the Church to support the clergy and maintain religious institutions.
→ It was distinct from Taille, which was a direct land tax paid to the French state.
→ Tithes were officially abolished in France during the revolutionary reforms of 1789.
→ The term comes from the Old English word for 'tenth'.
→ It was mandatory and enforced by law in many medieval and early modern European societies.
Additional Information

Salt tax: In France, the salt tax was known as Gabelle, a highly unpopular government monopoly tax.
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