Salic truth

Salic truth was created at the end of the 5th century. The content of this document reflects the existing legal and social system that characterizes the transition of primitive society to class, the emergence of private property and property inequality. It is a collection of records of the ancient customs of seaside francs, written in Latin. It contains court cases that, as a result of repeated repetition, have become custom. Includes Prologue, 65 titles and Epilogue.

Salic truth: a general characteristic

The collection was created as a judicial guide in the activities of judges. It did not include any systematized legal norms, it contained only specific incidents taken from life. The creation of this judicial case, in which the most common cases were fixed, was necessary, as the legal customs could vary depending on the locality. They were less reliable.

One of the main objectives of the Salic Truth is the protection of private property. The collection contains a list of crimes and punishments for them. Under the offense (delict) was meant harm, resentment inflicted on another person, as well as violation of the "royal world". And punishment was understood as compensation for a crime. Virtually all types of punishments were replaced by a fine. Its main goal was to prevent blood feud. The Salic Truth also includes articles regulating civil-law relations. This art. 46, regulating the order of transfer of ownership, and art. 49, which fixes the order of inheritance.

Salic truth: the characterization of punishments

During the creation of the collection in the Frankish Kingdom lived 8 groups of the population. Depending on the belonging of the person (victim) to a particular group, the degree of punishment of the guilty was determined. The most common punishment was a fine, which was considered the outcome of a settlement agreement between the parties. It was divided into two parts - the fayd (the amount transferred to the victim as a ransom for blood feud) and freudum (the amount paid for the intervention of the state). Also, there was restitution, that is, restoration or return of the violated, as well as reimbursement of costs.

The repayable price for killing a man was called vergeldom. So, the life of a free franc was estimated at 200 solid. Salic truth equated a slave to a thing, his life was the cost of a horse or a bull, that is, 30 solid. A special group - semi-free litas that were in contractual relations with the mister, participated in military enterprises and at the court, and at the same time they were judged according to the same rules as slaves - their lives were estimated at 100 solid. A considerable amount had to be paid for the murder of persons of spiritual rank. So, the death of the priest was estimated at 600 solidi, and the bishop at 900.

Salic truth, apart from compulsory compensation for damage, provided for other penalties. For example, in case of flight, the perpetrator was subject to the death penalty with confiscation of property. Corporal punishment was also applied to slaves .

Preliminary investigation was not conducted. The judge confined himself to the evidence provided by the parties. Widely used by the horde (the court of God). Tests were used with fire, iron and water. In the latter case, the accused was tied up and thrown into the river. If he drowned, he was found not guilty. Other forms of the horde were an oath and a judicial duel. The latter was appointed in case the defendant accused the plaintiff of lying. In a duel peasants fought on clubs, and nobles - on horses with weapons.

Salic truth is an important document for studying existing relations, it is a real historical find, the primary source, which laid the foundation for the right of the feudal social system in Europe.