Corrody
Encyclopedia
A corrody is an allowance of food and clothing from an abbey
, monastery
, or other religious house. While rarely practiced in the modern era, corrodies were common in the Middle Ages
. They were routinely awarded to the servants and staff of royalty
, but could also be purchased with donations of money or land. The corrody is one of the earliest forms of insurance
, as it provided security in sustenance and lodging in a time when social welfare was scarce.
The price offered for corrodies are unknown. Academic estimates, based on the value of the commodities provided, place the amount around £3 per year. This assumes an allowance of one loaf of bread and a gallon of ale, but excludes the cost of accommodations and living expenses. When multiplied by the life expectancy
of the era, it can be assumed that a life-long corrody for an average person would cost approximately £100.
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, or other religious house. While rarely practiced in the modern era, corrodies were common in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. They were routinely awarded to the servants and staff of royalty
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
, but could also be purchased with donations of money or land. The corrody is one of the earliest forms of insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
, as it provided security in sustenance and lodging in a time when social welfare was scarce.
The price offered for corrodies are unknown. Academic estimates, based on the value of the commodities provided, place the amount around £3 per year. This assumes an allowance of one loaf of bread and a gallon of ale, but excludes the cost of accommodations and living expenses. When multiplied by the life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
of the era, it can be assumed that a life-long corrody for an average person would cost approximately £100.