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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) 289.: Otto III Forbids the Unfree Classes to Attempt to Free Themselves, ca. 1000. - A Source Book for Mediaeval History. Selected Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Age
289.: Otto III Forbids the Unfree Classes to Attempt to Free Themselves, ca. 1000. - Oliver J. Thatcher, A Source Book for Mediaeval History. Selected Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Age [1905]Edition used:A Source Book for Mediaeval History. Selected Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Age, ed. Oliver J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905).
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- Preface
- I.: The Germans and the Empire to 1073
- 1.: Selections From the Germania of Tacitus, Ca. 100 Ad
- 2.: Procopius, Vandal War. (greek.)
- 3.: Procopius, Gothic War. (greek.)
- 4.: The Salic Law.
- 5.: Selections From the History of the Franks, By Gregory of Tours.
- 6.: The Coronation of Pippin, 751.
- 7.: Einhard’s Life of Karl the Great.
- 8.: The Imperial Coronation of Karl the Great, 800.
- 9.: General Capitulary About the Missi, 802.
- 10.: Selections From the Monk of St. Gall.
- 11.: Letter of Karl the Great to Baugulf, Abbot of Fulda, 787.
- 12.: Letter of Karl the Great In Regard to the Two Books of Sermons Prepared By Paul the Deacon, Ca. 790.
- 13.: Recognition of Karl By the Emperors At Constantinople, 812.
- 14.: Letter of Karl to Emperor Michael I, 813.
- 15.: Letter to Ludwig the Pious Concerning the Appearance of a Comet, 837.
- 16.: The Strassburg Oaths, 842.
- 17-18.: the Treaty of Verdun, 843.
- 17.: Annales Bertiniani.
- 18.: Regino.
- 19.: The Treaty of Meersen, 870.
- 20.: Invasions of Northmen At the End of the Ninth Century.
- 21.: Invasion of the Hungarians, Ca. 950.
- 22.: Dissolution of the Empire.
- 23.: The Coronation of Arnulf, 896.
- 24, 25.: Rise of the Tribal Duchies In Germany, Ca. 900.
- 24.: Saxony.
- 25.: Suabia.
- 26.: Henry I and the Saxon Cities, 919-36.
- 27.: The Election of Otto I, 936.
- 28.: Otto I and the Hungarians.
- 29.: The Imperial Coronation of Otto I, 962.
- 30-31.: the Acquisition of Burgundy By the Empire, 1018-1032.
- 30.: Thietmar of Merseburg.
- 31.: Wipo, Life of Conrad II.
- 32.: Henry Iii and the Eastern Frontier, 1040 to 1043.
- II.: The Papacy to the Accession of Gregory Vii, 1073
- 33.: Legislation Concerning the Election of Bishops, Fourth to the Ninth Century.
- 34.: The Pope Must Be Chosen From the Cardinal Clergy of Rome, 769.
- 35.: The Petrine Theory As Stated By Leo I, 440-61.
- 36.: The Emperor Gives the Pope Authority In Certain Secular Matters.
- 37.: The Emperor Has the Right to Confirm the Election of the Bishop of Rome, Ca. 650. a Letter From the Church At Rome to the Emperor At Constantinople, Asking Him to Confirm the Election of Their Bishop.
- 38.: A Letter From the Church At Rome to the Exarch At Ravenna, Asking Him to Confirm the Election of Their Bishop, Ca. 600.
- 39.: Gregory I Sends Missionaries to the English, 596.
- 40.: The Oath of Boniface to Pope Gregory Ii, 723.
- 41-42.: the Rebellion of the Popes Against the Emperor.
- 41.: Letter of Pope Gregory Ii to the Emperor, Leo Iii, 726 Or 727.
- 42.: Gregory Iii Excommunicates All Iconoclasts, 731 Ad
- 43.: The Pope, Gregory Iii, Asks Aid of the Franks Against the Lombards, 739. A Letter of Gregory Iii to Karl Martel.
- 44-46.: the Acquisition of Land By the Pope.
- 44.: Promise of Pippin to Pope Stephen Ii, 753-54.
- 45.: Donation of Pippin, 756.
- 46.: Promise of Charles to Adrian I, 774.
- 47.: Karl the Great Declares the Pope Has Only Spiritual Duties, 796. Letter of Karl to Leo III.
- 48.: Karl the Great Exercises Authority In Rome, 800.
- 49.: The Oath of Pope Leo Iii Before Karl the Great, 800.
- 50.: The Oath of the Romans to Ludwig the Pious and Lothar, 824.
- 51.: The Emperor Admits the Right of the Pope to Confer the Imperial Title. Passages From a Letter of Ludwig Ii, Emperor, to Basil, Emperor At Constantinople, 871.
- 52.: The Pope Enacts That Papal Elections Must Take Place In the Presence of the Emperor’s Representatives. Enactment of a Roman Synod Held By John Ix, 898.
- 53.: The Oath of Otto I to John Xii, 961.
- 54.: Otto I Confirms the Pope In the Possession of His Lands, 962.
- 55.: Leo Viii Grants the Emperor the Right to Choose the Pope and Invest All Bishops, 963.
- 56.: The Pope Confers the Royal Title. a Letter of Pope Sylvester Ii to Stephen of Hungary, 1000.
- 57.: The Emperor, Henry Iii, Deposes and Creates Popes, 1048.
- 58.: The Pope Becomes the Feudal Lord of Southern Italy and Sicily, 1059. The Oaths of Robert Guiscard to Pope Nicholas Ii, 1059.
- 59.: The Papal Election Decree of Nicholas Ii, 1059.
- III.: The Struggle Between the Empire and the Papacy, 1073-1250
- 60-64.: Prohibition of Simony, Marriage of the Clergy, and Lay Investiture, 1074-1123.
- 60.: Prohibition of Simony and of the Marriage of the Clergy, 1074 Ad
- 61.: Simony and Celibacy. the Roman Council, 1074.
- 62.: Celibacy of the Clergy. Gregory Vii, 1074.
- 63.: Action of the Ninth General Council In the Lateran Against the Marriage of the Clergy, 1123 Ad
- 64.: Prohibition of Lay Investiture, November 19, 1078.
- 65.: Dictatus Papæ, Ca. 1090.
- 66.: Letter of Gregory Vii to All the Faithful, Commending His Legates, 1074.
- 67.: Oath of the Patriarch of Aquileia to Gregory Vii, 1079 Ad
- 68-73.: Gregory Vii Exercises Secular Authority.
- 68.: The Oath of Fidelity Which Richard, Prince of Capua, Swore to Gregory Vii, 1073.
- 69.: Letter of Gregory Vii to the Princes Wishing to Reconquer Spain, 1073.
- 70.: Letter of Gregory Vii to Wratislav, Duke of Bohemia, 1073.
- 71.: Letter of Gregory Vii to Sancho, King of Aragon, 1074.
- 72.: Letter of Gregory Vii to Solomon, King of Hungary, 1074.
- 73.: Letter of Gregory Vii to Demetrius, King of the Russians, 1075.
- 74-81.: Conflict Between Henry Iv and Gregory VII.
- 74.: Letter of Gregory Vii to Henry Iv, December, 1075.
- 75.: The Deposition of Gregory Vii By Henry Iv, January 24, 1076.
- 76.: Letter of the Bishops to Gregory Vii, January 24, 1076.
- 77.: The First Deposition and Excommunication of Henry Iv By Gregory Vii, 1076.
- 78.: The Agreement At Oppenheim, October, 1076.
- 79.: Edict Annulling the Decrees Against Pope Gregory.
- 80.: Letter of Gregory Vii to the German Princes Concerning the Penance of Henry Iv At Canossa, Ca. January 28, 1077.
- 81.: The Oath of King Henry.
- 82.: Countess Matilda Gives All Her Lands to the Church, 1102.
- 83.: The First Privilege Which Paschal Ii Granted to Henry V, February 12, 1111.
- 84.: The Second Privilege Which Paschal Ii Granted to Henry V, April 12, 1111.
- 85-86.: Concordat of Worms, 1122.
- 85.: The Promise of Calixtus II.
- 86.: The Promise of Henry V.
- 87.: Election Notice, 1125.
- 88.: Anaclete Ii Gives Roger the Title of King of Sicily, 1130.
- 89.: The Coronation Oath of Lothar Ii, June 4, 1133.
- 90.: Innocent Ii Grants the Lands of the Countess Matilda As a Fief to Lothar Ii, 1133.
- 91.: Letter of Bernard of Clairvaux to Lothar Ii, 1134.
- 92.: Letter of Bernard to Conrad Iii, 1140.
- 93.: Letter of Conrad Iii to the Greek Emperor, John Comnenus, 1142.
- 94.: Letter of Wibald, Abbot of Stablo, to Eugene Iii, 1159.
- 95.: Letter of Frederick I to Eugene Iii, Announcing His Election, 1152.
- 96.: Answer of Eugene Iii, May 17, 1152.
- 97.: Treaty of Constance, 1153.
- 98.: The Stirrup Episode, 1155.
- 99.: Treaty Between Adrian Iv and William of Sicily, 1156.
- 100-102.: the Besançon Episode, 1157.
- 100.: Letter of Adrian Iv to Frederick, September 20, 1157.
- 101.: Manifesto of the Emperor, October, 1157.
- 102.: Letter of Adrian Iv to the Emperor, February, 1158.
- 103.: Definition of Regalia Or Crown Rights, Given At the Diet Held On the Roncalian Plain, 1158.
- 104.: Grounds For the Quarrel Between Adrian Iv and Frederick I. Letter of Eberhard, Bishop of Bamberg, to Eberhard, Archbishop of Salzburg, 1159.
- 105-107.: the Disputed Papal Election of 1159.
- 105.: Letter of Alexander Iii About His Election, 1159.
- 106.: Letter of Victor Iv to the German Princes, 1159.
- 107.: The Account of the Election As Given By Gerhoh of Reichersberg, Ca. 1160.
- 108.: The Preliminary Treaty of Anagni Between Alexander Iii and Frederick I, 1176.
- 109.: The Peace of Constance, January 25, 1183.
- 110.: The Formation of the Duchy of Austria, 1156.
- 111.: The Bishop of Würzburg Is Made a Duke, 1168.
- 112.: Decree of Gelnhausen, 1180.
- 113.: Papal Election Decree of Alexander Iii, 1179.
- 114-115.: Supremacy of the Papal Power.
- 114.: Innocent Iii to Acerbius, 1198.
- 115.: The Use of the Pallium. Innocent Iii to the Archbishop of Trnova (in Bulgaria), 1201.
- 116-118.: the Punishment of Heretics.
- 116.: Innocent Iii to the Archbishop of Auch In Gascony, 1198.
- 117.: Innocent Iii Commands All In Authority to Aid His Legates In Destroying Heresy, 1198.
- 118.: Confiscation of the Property of Heretics. Innocent Iii to the King of Aragon, 1206.
- 119.: Innocent Iii Commands the French Bishops to Punish Usury, 1198.
- 120.: Innocent Iii Forbids Violence to the Jews, 1199.
- 121.: Innocent Iii to the Archbishop of Rouen, 1198.
- 122.: Innocent Iii to a Bishop, Forbidding Laymen to Demand Tithes of the Clergy, 1198.
- 123-125.: the Secular Power of Innocent III.
- 123.: The Prefect of Rome Takes the Oath of Fidelity to the Pope, 1198.
- 124.: John of Ceccano’s Oath of Fidelity to Innocent Iii, 1201.
- 125.: Innocent Iii Commands the Archbishop of Messina to Receive the Oaths of Bailiffs In Sicily, 1203.
- 126.: Innocent Iii Commands the English Barons to Pay Their Accustomed Scutage to King John, 1206.
- 127.: Innocent Iii to Peter of Aragon, 1211.
- 128.: Innocent Iii Grants the Title of King to the Duke of Bohemia, 1204.
- 129.: Innocent Iii Rebukes the English Barons For Resisting King John of England, 1216.
- 130.: Decision of Innocent Iii In Regard to the Disputed Election of Frederick Ii, Philip of Suabia, and Otto of Brunswick, 1201.
- 131.: Treaty Between Philip, King of Germany, and Philip Ii, King of France, 1198.
- 132.: Alliance Between Otto Iv and John of England, 1202.
- 133.: Concessions of Philip of Suabia to Innocent Iii, 1203.
- 134.: Promise of Frederick Ii to Innocent Iii, 1213.
- 135.: Promise of Frederick Ii to Resign Sicily After His Coronation As Emperor, 1216.
- 136.: Concessions of Frederick Ii to the Ecclesiastical Princes of Germany, 1220.
- 137.: Decision of the Diet Concerning the Granting of New Tolls and Mints, 1220.
- 138.: Frederick Ii Gives a Charter to the Patriarch of Aquileia, 1220.
- 139.: Statute of Frederick Ii In Favor of the Princes, 1231-2.
- 140-142.: Treaty of San Germano, 1230.
- 140.: The Preliminary Agreement.
- 141.: Papal Stipulations In the Peace of San Germano, 1230.
- 142.: Letter of Gregory Ix About the Emperor’s Visit to Him After the Peace of San Germano, 1230.
- 143-144.: the Final Struggle Between Gregory Ix and Frederick II.
- 143.: Papal Charges and Imperial Defence, 1238.
- 144.: The Excommunication of Frederick Ii, 1239.
- 145.: Current Stories About Frederick II.
- IV.: The Empire From 1250 to 1500
- 146.: Diet of Nürnberg, 1274.
- 147.: The German Princes Confirm Rudolf’s Surrender of All Imperial Claims In Italy, 1278-79.
- 148.: Revocation of Grants of Lands Belonging to the Imperial Domain, 1281.
- 149.: An Electoral “letter of Consent,” 1282.
- 150.: Letter of Rudolf to Edward I, King of England, Announcing His Intention of Investing His Sons With Austria, Etc., 1283.
- 151.: Decree Against Counterfeiters, 1285.
- 152.: The Beginning of the Swiss Confederation, 1290.
- 152 A.: Edict of Rudolf, Forbidding Judges of Servile Rank to Exercise Authority In Schwyz, 1291.
- 153.: Concessions of Adolf, Count of Nassau, to the Archbishop of Cologne In Return For His Vote, 1292.
- 154.: The Archbishop of Mainz Is Confirmed As Archchancellor of Germany, 1298.
- 155.: Declaration of the Election of Henry Vii, 1308.
- 156.: The Supplying of the Office of the Archchancellor of Italy, 1310.
- 157.: The Law “licet Juris” of the Diet of Frankfort, August 8, 1338.
- 158-159.: the Diet of Coblenz, 1338.
- 158.: Chronicle of Flanders. (french.)
- 159.: Chronicle of Henry Knyghton.
- 160.: The Golden Bull of Charles Iv, 1356.
- 160 a and 160 B.: the Acquisition of the Mark of Brandenburg By the Hohenzollern Family, 1411.
- 160 A.: the Cities of the Mark Make Complaints to Sigismund, 1411. ( German. )
- 160 B.: Sigismund Orders the People of the Mark to Receive Frederick of Hohenzollern As Their Governor, 1412. ( German. )
- V.: The Church From 1250 to 1500
- 161.: Bull of Nicholas Iii Condemning All Heretics, 1280.
- 162.: The Bull “clericis Laicos” of Boniface Viii, 1298.
- 163.: Boniface Viii Announces the Jubilee Year, 1300.
- 164.: The Bull “unam Sanctam” of Boniface Viii, 1302.
- 165.: Conclusions Drawn By Marsilius of Padua From His “defensor Pacis.”
- 166.: Condemnation of Marsilius of Padua. 1327.
- 167.: The Beginning of the Schism. the Manifesto of the Revolting Cardinals. Aug. 5, 1378.
- 168.: The University of Paris and the Schism, 1393.
- 169.: The Council of Pisa Declares It Is Competent to Try the Popes. 1409.
- 170.: An Oath of the Cardinals to Reform the Church. Council of Pisa, 1409.
- 171.: The Council of Constance Claims Supreme Authority, 1415.
- 172.: Reforms Demanded By the Council of Constance, 1417.
- 173.: Concerning General Councils. the Council of Constance, 39th Session, October 9, 1417.
- 174.: Pius Ii, By the Bull “execrabilis,” Condemns Appeals to a General Council, 1459.
- 175.: William Iii of Saxony Forbids Appeals to Foreign Courts, 1446.
- 176.: Papal Charter For the Establishment of the University of Avignon, 1303.
- 177.: Popular Dissatisfaction That the Church Had So Much Wealth, Ca. 1480.
- 178.: Complaints of the Germans Against the Pope, 1510.
- 179.: Abuses In the Sale of Indulgences, 1512.
- VI.: Feudalism
- 180.: Form For the Creation of an Antrustio By the King.
- 181.: Form For the Suspending of Lawsuits.
- 182.: Form For Commendation. Middle of Eighth Century.
- 183.: Form By Which the King Allows a Powerful Person to Undertake the Cases of a Poor Person.
- 184-188.: Dependent Tenure of Land.
- 184.: Form For the Gift of Land to a Church to Be Received Back By the Giver As a Benefice.
- 185.: Form For a Precarial Letter.
- 186.: Form of Precarial Letter.
- 187.: Form of Precarial Letter.
- 188.: Gift of Land to Be Received Back and Held In Perpetuity For a Fixed Rent.
- 189.: Treaty of Andelot, 587.
- 190-194.: Grants of Immunity.
- 190.: Precept of Chlothar Ii, 584-628.
- 191.: Grant of Immunity to a Monastery, 673.
- 192.: Form of a Grant of Immunity to a Monastery.
- 193.: Form By Which the King Granted Lands With Immunity to Secular Persons.
- 194.: Grant of Immunity to a Secular Person, 815.
- 195-196.: the Feudalizing of Public Offices.
- 195.: Edict of Chlothar Ii, 614.
- 196.: Capitulary of Kiersy, 877.
- 197-202.: the Military Obligation of the Holder of Land.
- 197.: Capitulary of Lestinnes, 743.
- 198.: Capitulary of Aquitaine, Pippin, 768.
- 199.: Capitulary of Heristal, 779.
- 200.: General Capitulary to the Missi, 802.
- 201.: Capitulary to the Missi, 806.
- 202.: Capitulary Concerning Various Matters, 807.
- 203-208.: Effect of the Carolingian Organization On the Growth of Feudalism.
- 203.: General Capitulary to the Missi, 805.
- 204.: Capitulary of 811.
- 205.: Capitulary of Worms, 829.
- 206.: Capitulary of Aachen, 801-813.
- 207.: Agreement of Lothar, Ludwig, and Charles, 847.
- 208.: Capitulary of Bologna, 811.
- 209.: Homage.
- 210.: Homage.
- 211.: Homage.
- 212.: Homage.
- 213.: Homage.
- 214.: Homage of Edward Iii of England to Philip V of France, 1329.
- 215.: Feudal Aids.
- 216.: Feudal Aids.
- 217.: Feudal Aids, Etc.
- 218-225.: Homages Paid By the Count of Champagne.
- 218.: Homage to the Duke of Burgundy, 1143.
- 219.: Homage to Philip Ii of France, 1198.
- 220.: Homage to the Duke of Burgundy, 1200.
- 221, 222.: Agreement Between Blanche of Champagne and Philip Ii, 1201.
- 221.: Letter of Blanche.
- 222.: Letter of the King.
- 223.: Homage to the Bishop of Langres, 1214.
- 224.: Homage to the Bishop of Châlons, 1214.
- 225.: Homage to the Abbot of St. Denis, 1226.
- 226.: List of the Fiefs of Champagne, About 1172.
- 227.: Sum of the Knights [who Owe Service to the Count of Champagne].
- 228.: Extent of the Lands of the County of Champagne and Brie, About 1215.
- 229, 230.: The Attempt of the King to Control the Feudal Nobles.
- 229.: The Feudal Law of Conrad Ii, 1037.
- 230.: The Feudal Law of Frederick I For Italy, 1158.
- VII.: Courts, Judicial Processes, and the Peace
- 231.: Sachsenspiegel.
- 232.: Frederic Ii Appoints a Justiciar and a Court Secretary, 1235. From the Peace of the Land Which Was Proclaimed At Mainz, 1235.
- 233.: Wenzel Creates a Commission to Arbitrate All Differences, 1389. From the Peace of Eger, 1398. (german.)
- 234-239.: Ordeals Or Judgments of God.
- 234.: Ordeal By Hot Water.
- 235.: Ordeal By Hot Iron.
- 236.: Ordeal By Cold Water.
- 237.: Ordeal By Cold Water.
- 238.: Ordeal By the Barley Bread.
- 239.: Ordeal By Bread and Cheese.
- 240-250.: Documents On the Peace of God, the Truce of God, and the Peace of the Land.
- 240.: Peace of God, Proclaimed In the Synod of Charroux, 989.
- 241.: Peace of God, Proclaimed By Guy of Anjou, Bishop of Puy, 990.
- 242.: Truce of God, Made For the Archbishopric of Arles, 1035-41.
- 243.: Truce of God For the Archbishoprics of Besancon and Vienne, Ca., 1041.
- 244.: Truce For the Bishopric of Terouanne, 1063.
- 245.: Peace of the Land Established By Henry Iv, 1103.
- 246.: Peace of the Land For Elsass, 1085-1103.
- 247.: Decree of Frederick I Concerning the Keeping of Peace, 1156.
- 248.: Peace of the Land Declared By Frederick I In Italy, 1158.
- 249.: The Perpetual Peace of the Land Proclaimed By Maximilian I, 1495. ( German. )
- 250.: The Establishment of a Supreme Court to Try Peace-breakers, 1495. ( German. )
- VIII.: Monasticism
- 251.: The Rule of St. Benedict. About 530.
- 252.: Oath of the Benedictines.
- 253.: Monk’s Vow.
- 254.: Monk’s Vow.
- 255.: Monk’s Vow.
- 256.: Monk’s Vow.
- 257.: The Written Profession of a Monk.
- 258.: The Ceremony of Receiving a Monk Into the Monastery.
- 259.: Offering of a Child to the Monastery.
- 260.: Offering of a Child to the Monastery.
- 261.: Commendatory Letter.
- 262.: Commendatory Letter.
- 263.: General Letter.
- 264.: Letter of Dismissal.
- 265.: The Regular Clergy. Prologue of the Rule of St. Chrodegang, Bishop of Metz, For His Clergy, Ca. 744.
- 265 A.: Military-monkish Orders. the Origin of the Templars, 1119.
- 266.: Anastasius Iv Grants Privileges to the Knights of St. John (hospitallers), 1154.
- 267.: Innocent Iii Orders the Bishops of France to Guard Against Simony In the Monasteries, 1211.
- 268.: Innocent Iii Grants the Use of the Mitre to the Abbot of Marseilles, 1204.
- 269.: The Friars. the Rule of St. Francis, 1223.
- 270.: The Testament of St. Francis, 1220.
- 271.: Innocent Iv Grants the Friars Permission to Ride On Horseback When Travelling In the Service of the King of England, 1250.
- 272.: Alexander Iv Condemns the Attacks Made On the Friars Because of Their Idleness and Begging, 1256.
- 273.: John Xxii Condemns the Theses of John of Poilly In Which He Attacked the Friars, 1320.
- IX.: The Crusades
- 274.: The Meritorious Character of Martyrdom. Origen, Exhortation to Martyrdom, 235 Ad, Chaps. 30 and 50. (greek.)
- 275.: Origen, Commentary On Numbers, Homily X, 2. ( Greek. )
- 276.: Forgiveness of Sins For Those Who Die In Battle With the Heathen. Leo Iv (847-55) to the Army of the Franks.
- 277.: Indulgence For Fighting Heathen, 878.
- 278.: Gregory Vii Calls For a Crusade, 1074.
- 279.: The Speech of Urban Ii At the Council of Clermont, 1095. Fulcher of Chartres.
- 280.: The Council of Clermont, 1095. Robert the Monk.
- 281.: The Truce of God and Indulgence For Crusaders. the Council of Clermont, 1095.
- 282.: Rabble Bands of Crusaders. Ekkehard of Aura, Hierosolimita.
- 283.: Peter the Hermit. Anonymi Gesta Francorum, 1097-99.
- 284.: Eugene Iii Announces a Crusade, December 1, 1145.
- 285.: The Third Crusade, 1189-90. From the Chronicle of Otto of St. Blasien.
- 286.: Innocent Iii Forbids the Venetians to Traffic With the Mohammedans, 1198.
- 287.: Papal Protection of Crusaders. Innocent Iii Takes the King of the Danes Under His Protection, 1210.
- 288.: Innocent Iii and the Lateran Council Announce a Crusade, 1215.
- X.: Social Classes and Cities In Germany
- 289.: Otto Iii Forbids the Unfree Classes to Attempt to Free Themselves, Ca. 1000.
- 290.: Henry I Frees a Serf, 926.
- 291.: Henry Iii Frees a Female Serf, 1050.
- 292.: The Recovery of Fugitive Serfs, 1224.
- 293.: The Rank of Children Born of Mixed Marriages Is Fixed, 1282.
- 294.: Frederick Ii Confers Nobility, About 1240.
- 295.: Charles Iv Confers Nobility On a Doctor of Both Laws, 1360.
- 296.: The Law of the Family of the Bishop of Worms, 1023.
- 297.: The Charter of the Ministerials of the Archbishop of Cologne, 1154.
- 298.: The Bishop of Hamburg Grants a Charter to Colonists, 1106.
- 299.: The Privilege of Frederick I For the Jews, 1157.
- 300.: The Bishop of Speyer Gives the Jews of His City a Charter, 1084.
- 301-325.: the Cities of Germany.
- 301.: Lothar Ii (855-69) Grants a Market to the Monastery of Prüm, 861.
- 302.: Otto I Grants a Market to an Archbishop, 965.
- 303.: Otto Iii Grants a Market to Count Bertold, 999.
- 304.: No One Shall Compel Merchants to Come to His Market, 1236.
- 305.: A Market-court Is Independent of the Local Court, 1218.
- 306.: Otto I Grants Jurisdiction Over a Town to the Abbots of New Corvey, 940.
- 307.: The Ban-mile, Or the Limits of the Bishop’s Authority, 1237.
- 308.: The Citizens of Cologne Expel Their Archbishop, 1074.
- 309.: The People of Cologne Rebel Against Their Archbishop, 1074.
- 310.: Confirmation of the Immediateness of the Citizens of Speyer, 1267.
- 311.: Summons Sent to an Imperial City to Attend a Diet, 1338.
- 312.: Municipal Freedom Is Given to the Town Called Ebenbuchholtz, 1201.
- 313.: The Extension of the Corporate Limits of the City of Brunswick, 1269.
- 314.: The Decision of a Diet About the Establishment of City Councils In Cathedral Towns, 1218.
- 315.: Frederick Ii Forbird the Municipal Freedom of the Towns and Annuls All City Charters, 1231-2.
- 316.: Breslau Adopts the Charter of Magdeburg, 1261. (german.)
- 317.: The Schoeffen of Magdeburg Give Decisions For Culm, 1338. (german.)
- 318.: The Establishment of the Rhine League, 1254.
- 319.: Peace Established By the Rhine League, 1254.
- 320.: Agreement Between Hamburg and Lübeck, Ca. 1230.
- 321.: Agreement For Mutual Protection Between Lübeck and Hamburg, 1241.
- 322.: Lübeck, Rostock, and Wismar Proscribe Pirates, 1259.
- 323.: Decrees of the Hanseatic League, 1260-64.
- 324.: Decrees of the Hanseatic League, 1265.
- 325.: Cologne Merchants Have a Gildhall In London, 1157.
- Bibliography
- 1.: Large Collections; National
- 2.: Large Collections; Ecclesiastical and Papal
- 3.: Special Topics Selected Documents, Etc.
- Glossary
289.
Otto III Forbids the Unfree Classes to Attempt to Free Themselves,ca. 1000.
In the tenth century a large part of the peasant population of Germany was unfree. But from this decree of Otto III it is apparent that they were trying to escape from this condition. From various causes they had been able to avoid rendering their servile dues, and had, on that account, asserted their freedom. While the number of unfree was great, they were not all equally unfree. The lowest grade were slaves in the real sense of the word; that is, they were chattels. But this class was not numerous and was tending to disappear. The highest grade was composed of those who were personally free, and who could amass property; but they were unfree in that they had no legal status. That is, they could not appear in court as a party to a suit, nor could they testify as witnesses. In all legal matters they had to have some one to represent them in the court. These are the two extremes, between which there were a great many unfree classes or groups, each differing from the other in the degree of personal or property rights which they possessed. An idea of some of these classes will be gained from the following documents. There is need of careful legislation because the princes of the empire, both lay and clerical, rich and poor, the higher as well as the lower, make frequent complaints that they are not able to obtain from their unfree subjects those services to which they have a right. For some falsely declare that they are free because their lords, in many cases, cannot prove the servitude which they [their unfree subjects] are trying in a dishonest way to escape. Others are trying to rise to the honor of freedom because their lords have, for a long time, been hindered from knowing anything about their unfree subjects, and hence the latter have not been kept in their accustomed state of servitude, nor are they forced to pay a tax as a proof of their unfree state. So on this account they declare that they are free and boast that they have lived in freedom, because for a short time they have not fulfilled their servile duties. Therefore we have issued this imperial law: (1) If a serf, led by his desire for liberty, says that he is free, his lord may settle the case by a duel with him, fighting either in person or by his champion [representative], as he may wish. The lord is given this privilege because of the great difficulty there is in proving such things in the regular way. The unfree man may secure a champion for himself if, because of age or disease, he is unable to fight. (2) In order that the unfree may not hide his real condition by avoiding his duties for a time, we decree by this our edict, which, with the help of God, shall be valid forever, that hereafter each one shall show his servile condition by paying a denar of the ordinary currency every year on the first of December to his lord or to the agent whom he shall appoint for this purpose. (3) The children of the free shall begin to pay this tax as a proof of their servile condition in their twenty-fifth year and at the appointed time. And no matter how long they may avoid paying this tax, they shall not thereby become free. (4) If any unfree man belonging to the church shall disobey this edict, he shall be fined one-half of all his goods and he shall be reduced to his former unfree condition. For an unfree man of the church may never become free. We strictly forbid the unfree of the churches to be set free, and we order all those who have, by any device, been freed to be reduced to servitude again.
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