My campaing is approaching the Roman Wars. According to Book of Battles, this sees the introduction of scutage, ie a tax or perhaps rather a fine for knights to their Lord in stead of vassal service. In GPC scutage is introuduced later, in the Tournament period, but its introduction during the Roman Wars makes much more sense: a feudal army couldn't march through the continent and conquer Rome, so it makes sense that Arthur hires full time professionals (at £2/month) and leaves the 40-day knights at home. Their scutage pays the bill for the professionals.

All this is in line with the way scutage worked in real life, and works well in the setting. But exactly how does the custom work in KAP? Who has to pay scutage and when? And who much?

Is it a tax or a fine?
1) It is a tax, payable to the Lord, every year, whether or not the fuedal army is mustered for attack or defence or not.
2) It is a fine, payble to the Lord only when there is a war and the fuedal army is mustered. Those who chose to stay at home pay the scutage.
3) It is a fine, payble to the Lord only when there is a war and the fuedal army is not mustered. All his vassals pays scutage (the whole Realm, if Arthur says so).
4) Something else, that I have missed?

And what do the reluctant vassal has to pay his Lord? It should be his yearly upkeep, typically £6 for a vassal knight (and likeley £40-50 for an average Banneret) but perhaps it is less?

Hope someone can give me some suggestions on who to make scutage work in KAP!

My campaign is approaching the Roman Wars. According to Book of Battles, this sees the introduction of scutage, ie a tax or perhaps rather a fine for knights to their Lord in stead of vassal service. In GPC scutage is introuduced later, in the Tournament period, but its introduction during the Roman Wars makes much more sense: a feudal army couldn't march through the continent and conquer Rome, so it makes sense that Arthur hires full time professionals (at £2/month) and leaves the 40-day knights at home. Their scutage pays the bill for the professionals.

All this is in line with the way scutage worked in real life, and works well in the setting. But exactly how does the custom work in KAP? Who has to pay scutage and when? And who much?

Is it a tax or a fine?
1) It is a tax, payable to the Lord, every year, whether or not the fuedal army is mustered for attack or defence or not.
2) It is a fine, payble to the Lord only when there is a war and the fuedal army is mustered. Those who chose to stay at home pay the scutage.
3) It is a fine, payble to the Lord only when there is a war and the fuedal army is not mustered. All his vassals pays scutage (the whole Realm, if Arthur says so).
4) Something else, that I have missed?


At first it is a penalty, paid to the king in lieu of attending in person.
For the Roman War, especially the second year, it is largely voluntary, as most knights don't want to spend another year away.
Later on fiefs are made for the money, not knight service.



And what do the reluctant vassal has to pay his Lord? It should be his yearly upkeep, typically £6 for a vassal knight (and likeley £40-50 for an average Banneret) but perhaps it is less?


Yes, it is £6 per knight, and £2 for the usual two foot soldiers per knight

--Greg

Thanks Greg, that clearfies things.

Youll have to explaine money fiefs to us some day :)

Thanks Greg, that clearfies things.

Youll have to explaine money fiefs to us some day :)


It is simple. The liege gives you a fief to a manor, but instead of expecting knight service, he gets a sum of money or of goods.
The manor you own might be converted to this, but remember that it will also be reassessed for its true worth. Say goodbye to all that Investment profit you have built up over the years. (Lieges love reassessments)

One of the results of this is that people stop becoming knights. It is expensive and dangerous and, well, kind of snooty and pretentious. The money can surely be better put to something else.
The result is that you end up with a lot of families holding estates, and the owner adds his title at the end, resulting in names similar to the famous Bugs Bunny, Esq.