Corvée

The obligation to perform labour without charge for the sovereign or feudal lord. Corvée amounted to a level of existence slightly above slavery.

King Solomon was infamous for the corvée he imposed on his people to accomplish his immense building projects all over the country. The resentment of the burden exploded with deadly power when, upon his death and gathered at Shechem to inaugurate the reign of his successor, Rehoboam, they asked for a reduction of the corvée. The latter refused, promising instead to further increase the burden. The northern tribes responded by forming their own sovereign state under Jeroboam. Rehoboam was left to bite his bitter foolishness with a very reduced state.