Vakus

(also vakka; Estonian). (1) An administrative unit of the Estonians and Livy in the Middle Ages. The number of peasant households making up a vakus varied from ten to 100.

(2) A traditional assembly of peasant heads of households in several regions of the Baltic countries, convening from one to five times annually. During the assembly the peasants paid quitrents and met their obligations for services in kind. The assembly also decided peasant court cases. The period of such an assembly was also called a vakus. In the second half of the 16th century and early 17th century these assemblies gradually disappeared.