| The Most Important Law Book of the German Middle Ages |
Eike von Repgow, c.1180-1235, was very possibly a well-educated freeman
and also vassal to von Falkenstein. Eike mentions von Falkenstein as the one
inspiring the translation the original Latin version into German, and Eike's and
his names both appear on some of the same documents, therefore some
confusion has ensued over time as to who was the true author. In any case, with
the power struggles between the Staufern and Welfen lines, between the Kings
and the Pope and the problems of early Germanic colonization in Slavic areas,
the book was a valuable tool for peace and order as it recorded all standard law
that every person should abide by.
and also vassal to von Falkenstein. Eike mentions von Falkenstein as the one
inspiring the translation the original Latin version into German, and Eike's and
his names both appear on some of the same documents, therefore some
confusion has ensued over time as to who was the true author. In any case, with
the power struggles between the Staufern and Welfen lines, between the Kings
and the Pope and the problems of early Germanic colonization in Slavic areas,
the book was a valuable tool for peace and order as it recorded all standard law
that every person should abide by.
This written documentation ensured the preservation of centuries old traditions and norms passed
down through generations. There are over 450 preserved manuscripts and fragments in existence
today. Therein is a countless wealth of information about the rural and knightly daily life of the
Middle-Ages. The Heidelburger manuscript contains an assortment of 30 pages with 310 pictures
and is maintained only in fragments. The Oldenburger Sachsenspiegel offers the most complete text
of the four codices but only 44 of the 578 hand-painted pictures remain fully preserved. Both the
Dresdner Codex and the Wolfenbüttleler Sachsenspiegel contain exquisite illustrations with abundant
gold. The Wolfenbütteler Sachsenspiegel with 776 painted pictures laid out over 86 pages is without
question the best preserved and most precious example of illustrated Codices of the Sachsenspiegels.
It most likely originated in the third quarter of the 14th century in upper Saxony. At one point it was
acquired by Duke August, the youngest son of the Braunschweig-Lüneburg family and the founder
of the second and permanent library in Wolfenbüttel. The Herzog August Library remains to this day
the permanent home of the original Wolfenbütteler Sachsenspiegel.
down through generations. There are over 450 preserved manuscripts and fragments in existence
today. Therein is a countless wealth of information about the rural and knightly daily life of the
Middle-Ages. The Heidelburger manuscript contains an assortment of 30 pages with 310 pictures
and is maintained only in fragments. The Oldenburger Sachsenspiegel offers the most complete text
of the four codices but only 44 of the 578 hand-painted pictures remain fully preserved. Both the
Dresdner Codex and the Wolfenbüttleler Sachsenspiegel contain exquisite illustrations with abundant
gold. The Wolfenbütteler Sachsenspiegel with 776 painted pictures laid out over 86 pages is without
question the best preserved and most precious example of illustrated Codices of the Sachsenspiegels.
It most likely originated in the third quarter of the 14th century in upper Saxony. At one point it was
acquired by Duke August, the youngest son of the Braunschweig-Lüneburg family and the founder
of the second and permanent library in Wolfenbüttel. The Herzog August Library remains to this day
the permanent home of the original Wolfenbütteler Sachsenspiegel.
Originally written in Latin, it was translated into German at the
request of Count Hoyer von Falkenstein and some believe it
to have been written at his castle, Burg Falkenstein. The
Sachsenspiegel is divided into two parts, one concerned with
laws regarding the management of fiefs, the Lehnrecht, and
the other with more general laws, the Landrecht, or regional
law. The Landrecht pertains to the space occupied by lord
and peasant and it served as a model for other later law books.
request of Count Hoyer von Falkenstein and some believe it
to have been written at his castle, Burg Falkenstein. The
Sachsenspiegel is divided into two parts, one concerned with
laws regarding the management of fiefs, the Lehnrecht, and
the other with more general laws, the Landrecht, or regional
law. The Landrecht pertains to the space occupied by lord
and peasant and it served as a model for other later law books.
After a widow had distributed half of her food supplies to the heirs,
she had to dispossess herself of all her husband's military gear,
including his sword, his best horse, his finest armor as well as his
bedding. She was not required to turn over anything she didn't have,
but had to swear an oath for every missing item she could not provide
to the heirs. This picture at left show a wife swearing such an oath,
indicating that she does not have all the standard items from the list.
she had to dispossess herself of all her husband's military gear,
including his sword, his best horse, his finest armor as well as his
bedding. She was not required to turn over anything she didn't have,
but had to swear an oath for every missing item she could not provide
to the heirs. This picture at left show a wife swearing such an oath,
indicating that she does not have all the standard items from the list.
Between 1220 and 1235, the illuminated manuscript called the Sachsenspiegel (Mirror of the
Saxons) was written by Saxon administrator Eike of Repgow (1180-1235) in Middle Low German,
with the aim of recording regional jurisprudence which, until the 13th century, had been only an
oral tradition. The book was written for those charged with administering the law and it contains
information on a wide variety of legal topics, including enforcement of the law; penal law; laws
concerning inheritance, dowries, and marriage; property law; and laws governing the herding,
keeping and hunting of animals.
Saxons) was written by Saxon administrator Eike of Repgow (1180-1235) in Middle Low German,
with the aim of recording regional jurisprudence which, until the 13th century, had been only an
oral tradition. The book was written for those charged with administering the law and it contains
information on a wide variety of legal topics, including enforcement of the law; penal law; laws
concerning inheritance, dowries, and marriage; property law; and laws governing the herding,
keeping and hunting of animals.
The Sachsenspiegel profoundly influenced legal writing and the drafting of laws throughout
Germany and beyond, and it was translated into Latin, Dutch, Polish, Czech and Russian and widely
distributed, even into Eastern Europe, the Netherlands, and the Baltic States.
Germany and beyond, and it was translated into Latin, Dutch, Polish, Czech and Russian and widely
distributed, even into Eastern Europe, the Netherlands, and the Baltic States.
It exists in more than 200 manuscripts, some of which contain magnificent and detailed illustrations.
It was used in parts of Germany until as late as 1900, and is important not only for its lasting effect
on German law, but also as an early example of German prose. It was the first large legal document
to be written in German instead of Latin. Its precedents continued to be cited as recently as 1932.
Of the seven original illuminated manuscripts, four exist today, named after their present locations:
the Heidelberg (c.1300), the Oldenburg (c.1336), the Dresden (c.1350), and the Wolfenbüttel
(c.1350-70). The detailed illustrations make the work understandible and contain index numbers
to the corresponding legal text.
It was used in parts of Germany until as late as 1900, and is important not only for its lasting effect
on German law, but also as an early example of German prose. It was the first large legal document
to be written in German instead of Latin. Its precedents continued to be cited as recently as 1932.
Of the seven original illuminated manuscripts, four exist today, named after their present locations:
the Heidelberg (c.1300), the Oldenburg (c.1336), the Dresden (c.1350), and the Wolfenbüttel
(c.1350-70). The detailed illustrations make the work understandible and contain index numbers
to the corresponding legal text.