Calendars and time
Indiction
Direct answer
Indiction: An Indiction is a recurring fifteen-year numbering cycle used in late Roman, Byzantine, medieval, and ecclesiastical documents.
An Indiction labels a year position within a repeating fifteen-year cycle.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Calendars & Timekeeping
- Related
- Regnal Year, Anno Domini, Calendar, Julian Date
An Indiction labels a year position within a repeating fifteen-year cycle.
A cycle or timeline schematic for comparing the named timekeeping concept.
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The story behind Indiction
The cycle developed from Roman fiscal administration and continued long after its original tax function faded.
Why Indiction matters
Because the cycle repeats, an indiction number helps date a document only when combined with an era, ruler, or other evidence.
Indiction in practice: an example
A manuscript saying indiction 7 does not by itself identify which occurrence of year 7 is meant.
Where readings of Indiction go wrong
The usual misreading is to assign a unique modern year from an indiction number alone.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Introduction to Calendars - Official overview of calendar systems, leap rules, eras, and historical calendar reform.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Calendars & Timekeeping
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Combine the cycle with other evidence
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Common questions
What is an Indiction?
An Indiction is a recurring fifteen-year numbering cycle used in late Roman, Byzantine, medieval, and ecclesiastical documents.
What do people get wrong about an Indiction?
The usual misreading is to assign a unique modern year from an indiction number alone.
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