Sexmo

The sexmo or sexma (transl. 'sixth part')^[1] was an administrative subdivision present in parts of medieval Castile corresponding to a grouping of rural hamlets within the territorial jurisdiction of a town council. Its articulation primarily responded to the purpose of tax collection,^[2] and, insofar they served the Crown to that end, the latter provided certain formal recognition to the administrative organization.^[3] They also served to administer communal property.^[4] Associated to this division, there was the political office of sexmero, institutionalised towards the 13th century, charged with the collection of pechos [es].^[5]