Feud letter

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A feud letter , also a letter of rejection (lat. Litterae diffidatoriae ), is a document in which the feud is announced - usually with very brief words . This had to be done in writing three days in advance to be considered lawful.

So that the feud did not turn into murder and thus punishable (see also Plackerer ), those affected had to observe the following rules:

  1. The feud, whether among knights or between knights and cities, had to be announced by a formal feud letter.
  2. The killing of bystanders was forbidden.
  3. Burning down houses and devastating land was allowed, however.
  4. During the feud, peace had to be observed in church, in the home, when going to church, when returning from church, when going to court, and when returning from court.

It is understood that these rules in practice z. In some cases, they were considerably less or even ignored.

example

"Bet, biscop Dierich van Moeres, dat wy the vesten Junker Johan can Cleve lever lift alls Juwe, unde worth Juwe hereby affgesaget"
( Know, Bishop Dietrich von Moers, that we prefer the steadfast Junker Johann von Kleve to you, and will You hereby canceled. )

See also