Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae - Monumenta paderbornesia 1672.jpeg

The Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae is a legal text that was passed by Charlemagne in 782, possibly during the imperial assembly at the Lippequellen . It served to consolidate the Frankish power over the newly subjugated Saxons by interfering with the Saxon tribal constitution. To this end, the tribal assembly was banned, a new jurisdiction was established with the institution of the count's office and a new tax was introduced with the church tithing .

The lack of active conversion work and the simultaneous collection of the church tithe have already been sharply criticized by Alkuin , an important advisor to Charlemagne. As a result, the hoped-for effect was largely absent and pagan ideas remained widespread. This finally culminated in 793 in the renewed uprising of the Saxons, after whose overthrow the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae was replaced by the more moderate Capitulare Saxonicum , which initiated the gradual integration of the Saxons into the Frankish Empire.

The “capitularies” were recently rediscovered in the Vatican archives by the papal secret chamberlain and scholar Ferdinand von Fürstenberg and published in 1672 in his second edition of the Monumenta Paderbornensia .

translation

Translation in E. Schubert, Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae (Fs. H. Schmidt, 1993, appendix p. 26–28):

  1. All agree with the principle of the higher cases, that the churches of Christ in Saxony should not have any less, but considerably higher importance than the places of idolatry.
  2. If someone seeks refuge in the church, he should be safe there until his trial, and no one should dare to force him out. Because of the glory of God and the saints to whom the church in question is consecrated, the asylum seeker should not be at the head and neck in court, but instead should atone for his deed with money as far as he can in accordance with the verdict. Then he is to be brought before the king, and he will put him where it pleases his royal grace.
  3. Whoever storms a church by force and takes something away from it by force or by theft or lets the church go up in flames should die.
  4. Whoever breaks the forty-day fast before Easter in contempt for the Christian faith and eats meat should die. But the priest should check whether he was not forced to eat meat because of need.
  5. Whoever kills a bishop, a priest or a deacon should die.
  6. The death penalty suffers who, deceived by the devil, believes according to pagan custom that some man or woman is a witch and ogre and therefore burns them or eats their flesh or passes them on for consumption.
  7. Anyone who buries corpses according to pagan custom by exposing the body to the flames suffers the death penalty.
  8. Whoever wants to remain a heathen and hides under the Saxons, in order not to be baptized or to disdain to go to baptism, should die.
  9. Whoever sacrifices a person to the devil and, according to pagan custom, offers an idol as a sacrifice should die.
  10. Whoever plots against the Christians with the Gentiles or wants to persevere with them as an enemy of the Christians should die. And whoever supports him against King and Christianity should also die.
  11. It is the head and collar of him who appears to the king to be unfaithful.
  12. Whoever steals his master's daughter should die.
  13. Whoever kills his master or mistress should be punished in the same way.
  14. The death penalty in the above cases can be waived after the priest's testimony if the person concerned had fled voluntarily to the priest and had confessed to the secretly committed acts and wanted to repent.
  15. As for the lower cases, they all agree that a main courtyard and two hooves of land are given to each church by the inhabitants of a district belonging to that church, and that every 120 inhabitants both Edelinge and Frilinge and Laten, to contribute a servant and a maid for this church.
  16. And it corresponds to the Christian command that everywhere of all royal income, including peace and penalties, the tenth part should go to the churches and priests.
  17. In the same way we prescribe, according to divine command, that all should deliver the tithe of their property and work to the churches and clergy, both noble and frilinge and latin; for what God gives to every Christian must in part be given back to God.
  18. Public meetings and court hearings should not take place on Sundays unless there is great distress or hostile attack. Because on Sunday everyone should go to church, pray and hear God's word. It should be kept in the same way at the high church festivals.
  19. Accordingly, it makes sense to include in these regulations that all children are baptized within one year. We stipulate that whoever disdains this without the priest's permission has to pay the "fiscus" as noble 120 sol., As friling 60 sol. And as late 30 sol. In penance.
  20. Anyone entering into a prohibited or illegal marriage pays 60 as Edeling, 30 as Friling and 15 sol as Late.
  21. Whoever makes vows according to pagan custom at springs, trees or groves or who sacrifices according to pagan custom and organizes a communal meal in honor of idols, pays 60 as noble, 30 as friling, 30 as late. And if he does not have the money, he should work it off in the service of the Church.
  22. We order that the Christian Saxons be buried in the church yards and not on the pagan burial mounds.
  23. The fortune tellers and magicians are to be handed over to the churches and pastors.
  24. If someone takes robbers and evildoers who have fled from one county to another under his protection and stays for seven nights with no intention of bringing them to justice, he pays our exemption. The count also has to do the same if he cannot apologize for it, and in addition he loses his office.
  25. Nobody should dare to hold someone else in bondage, and whoever does that pays the ban.
  26. Nobody should dare to forbid a person to seek his rights in front of us with the same punishment.
  27. If someone cannot provide a surety, their property should be confiscated until they provide a surety. But if he dares to enter his house in the meantime, he pays either 10 sol. Or an ox for the violation of the ban and pays his debt beyond that, but if the surety does not keep the set date, then he himself has according to his guarantee to answer for the damage. The debtor, however, must reimburse the surety for double what the surety had suffered as a result of him.
  28. Anyone who accepts bribes from the innocent falls under our royal spell, and if, which we hope does not happen, he is a count, he loses his office.
  29. All counts should keep peace and harmony with one another; and if a dispute should break out between them, they should rely on our assistance and decision.
  30. If someone kills a count or plans to remove him, his inheritance falls to the king, into whose power he must be extradited.
  31. We give the counts the competence to impose up to 60 sol. In their office due to wrongdoing or high court cases, and up to 15 sol. (Von Schwerin reads 12) in the lesser cases.
  32. Whoever swears an oath to another man should do so at the altar of the church on a appointed day; and if he refuses to swear, he will conclude a contract and pay 15 sol. if he fails to do so, and then he should pay off his debts completely.
  33. Perjury is punished according to Saxon law.
  34. We forbid all Saxons to hold tribal meetings unless our royal messenger summons them on our orders. Rather, each of our counts should hold meetings in his office and pronounce justice, and pastors should ensure that he behaves accordingly.

Original text

Constitute sunt primum de maioribus capitulis.
  1. Hoc placuit omnibus, ut ecclesiae Christi, que modo construuntur in Saxonia et Deo sacratae sunt, non minorem habeant honorem sed maiorem et excellentiorem quam vana habuissent idolorum.
  2. Si quis confugiam fecerit in ecclesiam, nullus eum de ecclesia per violentiam expellere praesumat, sed pacem habeat usque dum ad placitum praesentetur, et propter honorem Dei sanctorumque ecclesiae ipsius reverentiam concedatur ei vita et omnia membra. Emends autem causam in quantum potuerit et ei fuerit iudicatum; et sic ducatur ad praesentiam domni regis, et ipse eum mittat ubi clementiae ipsius placuerit.
  3. Si quis ecclesiam per violentiam intraverit et in ea per vim vel furtu aliquid abstulerit vel ipsam ecclesiam igne cremaverit, morte moriatur.
  4. Si quis sanctum quadragensimale ieiunium pro despectu christianitatis contempserit et carnem comederit, morte moriatur; sed tamen consideretur a sacerdote ne forte causa necessitatis hoc cuilibet proveniat ut carnem commedat ..
  5. Si quis episcopum aut presbyterum sive diaconum interficerit, similiter capite punietur.
  6. Si quis a diabulo deceptus crediderit secundum morem paganorum, virum aliquem aut feminam strigam esse et homines commedere, et propter hoc ipsam incenderit / S. 69 / vel carnem eius ad commedendum dederit vel ipsam commederit, capitali sententiae punietur.
  7. Si quis corpus defuncti hominis secundum ritum paganorum flamma consumi fecerit et ossa eius ad cinerem redierit, capitae punietur.
  8. Si quis deinceps in gente Saxonorum inter eos latens non baptizatus se extra special voluerit et ad baptismum venire contempserit paganusque permanere voluerit, morte moriatur.
  9. Si quis hominem diabulo sacrificaverit et in hostiam more paganorum daemonibus obtulerit, morte moriatur.
  10. Si quis cum paganis consilium adversus christianos inierit vel cum illis in adversitate christianorum perdurare voluerit, morte moriatur; et quicumque hoc idem fraude contra regem vel gentem christianorum consenserit, morte moriatur.
  11. Si quis domino regi infidelis apparuerit, capitali sententia punietur.
  12. Si quis filiam domini sui rapuerit morte morietur.
  13. Si quis dominum suum vel dominam suam interficerit, simili modo punietur.
  14. Si vero pro his mortalibus criminibus latenter commissis aliquis sponte ad sacerdotem confugerit et confessione data ageri poenitentiam voluerit, testimonio sacerdotis de morte excusetur.
  15. De minoribus capitulis consenserunt omnes. Ad unamquamque ecclesiam curte et duos mansos terrae pagenses ad ecclesiam recurrentes condonant, et inter centum viginti homines, nobiles et ingenuis similiter et litos, servum et ancillam eidem ecclesiae tribuant.
  16. Et hoc Christo propitio placuit, ut undecumque census aliquid ad fiscum pervenerit, sive in frido sive in qualecumque banno et in omni redibutione ad regem pertante, decima pars ecclesiis et sacerdotibus reddatur.
  17. Similiter secundum Dei mandatum praecipimus, ut omnes decimam partem substantiae et laboris suis ecclesiis et sacerdotibus donent: tam nobiles quam ingenui similiter et liti, iuxta quod Deus unicuique dederit christiano, partem Deo reddant.
  18. Ut in dominicis diebus conventus et placita publica non faciant, nisi forte pro magna necessitate aut hostilitate cogente, sed omnes ad ecclesiam recurrant ad audiendum verbum Dei et orationibus vel iustis operibus vacent. Similiter et in festivitatibus praeclaris Deo et ecclesiae conventui deserviant et secularia placita demittant.
  19. Similiter placuit his decretis inserere, quod omnes infantes infra annum baptizantur; et hoc statuimus, ut si quis infantem intra circulum anni ad baptismum offerre contempserit sine consilio vel licentia sacerdotis, si de nobile generi fuerit centum viginti solidos fisco conponant, si ingenuus sexaginta, si litus triginta.
  20. Si quis prohibitum vel inlicitum coniugium sibi sortitus fuerit, si nobilis solidos sexaginta; si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim.
  21. Si quis ad fontes aut arbores vel lucos votum fecerit aut aliquit more gentilium obtulerit et ad honorem daemonum commederet, si nobilis fuerit solidos sexaginta, si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim. Si vero non habuerint unde praesentaliter persolvant, ad ecclesiae servitium donentur usque dum ipsi solidi solvantur.
  22. Iubemus ut corpora christianorum Saxanorum ad cimiteria ecclesiae deferantur et non ad tumulus paganorum.
  23. Divinos et sortilegos ecelesiis et sacerdotibus dare constituimus./S. 70 /
  24. De latronibus et malefactorihus, qui de una comitatu ad alium confugium fecerint, si quis eos receperit in suam potestate et septem noctibus secum detenuerit, nisi ad praesentandum, nostrum bannum solvat. Similiter si comis eum absconderit et ad iustitiam faciendam praesentare noluerit et ad hoc excusare non potest, honorem suum perdat.
  25. De pignore: ut nullatenus alterum aliquis pignorare praesumat; et qui hoc fecerit, bannum persolvat
  26. Ut nulli hominum contradicere viam ad nos veniendo pro iustitia reclamandi aliquis praesumat; et si aliquis hoc facere conaverit, nostrum bannum persolvat
  27. Si quis homo fideiussorem invenire non potuerit, res illius in forbanno mittantur usque dnm fideiussorem praesentet. Si vero super bannum in domum suum intrare praesumpserit, aut solidos decem aut unum bovem pro emendatione ipsius banni conponat, et insuper unde debitor exstitit persolvat. Si vero fideiussor diem statutum non observaberit, tunc ipse tantum damni incurrat quantum manus sua fideiussoris exstitit; illegal autem qui debitor fideiussori exstitit duplum restituat, pro eo quod fideiussorem in damnum cadere permisit.
  28. De praemiis et muneribus: ut munera super innocente nullus accipiat; et si quis hoc facere praesumpserit, nostrum bannum solvat. Et si, quod absit, forte comis hoc fecerit, honorem suum perdat.
  29. Ut universi comites pacem et concordiam ad invicem habere studeant; et si forte inter eos aliqua discordia aut conturbium ortum fuerit, aut nostrum solatium vel perfectum pro hoc non demittant.
  30. Si quis comitem interficcrit vel de eius morte consilium dederit, hereditas illius ad partem regis eveniat et in ius eius redicatur.
  31. Dedimus potestatem comitibus bannum middle infra suo ministerio de faida vel maioribus causis in solidos LX; de minoribus vero causis comitis bannum in solidos XV constituimus.
  32. Si cuilibet homini sacramcntum debet aliquis, aframeat illum ad ecclesiam sacramenta ad diem statutum; et si iurare contempserit, fidem faciat, et solidos quindecim componat qui iactivus apparuit, et deinceps causam pleniter emendare faciat.
  33. De periuris, secundum legem Saxonorum sit.
  34. Interdiximus ut omnes Saxones generaliter conventus publicos nec faciant, nisi forte missus noster de verbo nostro eos congregare fecerit; sed unusquisque comes in suo ministerio placita et iustitias faciat. Et hoc a sacerdotibus consideretur, ne aliter faciat.

See also

literature

  • Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire (Rev. belge philol. Hist.) ISSN  0035-0818
  • Lutz E. Von Padberg, Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae, in: Concise Dictionary of German Legal History I, 2nd edition, 2008, Sp. 813–815.
  • Ernst Schubert , The Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae. In: Dieter Brosius, Christiane van den Heuvel, Ernst Hinrichs, Hajo van Lengen (eds.): History in the region. On the occasion of Heinrich Schmidt's 65th birthday, Hanover 1993, 3–28 ( PDF )