Indiction
a declaration or imposition of a tax, an impost, or a prohibition of grave character. The "Cycle of Indiction" is a period of 15 years, not founded on any astronomical occurrence, but fixed first by Constantine the Great as a fiscal arrangement. It began on Jan. 1, A. D. 313. The Popes adopted it in the year 1582, when the calendar was reformed, that year being the 10th of the indiction. The year of the indiction corresponding to any year of our era is thus found: Add 3 to the date, divide the sum by 15, and the remainder is the year of the indiction, the remainder Odicating the 15th of the cycle. Thus 1884+3 15 = 125, with a remainder of 12. Twelve, therefore, is the indiction of that year. There are three other indictions besides Constantine's: the Cæsarean or Imperial, the Roman or Pontifical, and that of the Parliaments of France.