What does the term scutage refer to?

Scutage refers to a monetary payment that a vassal could make to their lord in lieu of fulfilling military service obligations. This historical practice originated in feudal England, where vassals were required to provide military service to their lords in exchange for land and protection. However, as time progressed, some vassals opted to pay a fee instead of participating in military campaigns, leading to the development of scutage as a means to substitute for the obligation of serving in the military.

The other options do not accurately describe scutage. Rights acquired by tenants over land pertain to tenancy agreements and property law, while a land registration system focuses on the formal recording of land ownership and rights. Adjudicative bodies are concerned with resolving specific disputes through legal mechanisms but are unrelated to the historical context of military service and payments. Thus, the definition of scutage as a monetary payment in place of military obligations is the most accurate description in this context.