CAPITULARIES Meaning and
Definition
-
Capitularies were a collection of laws and decrees promulgated by the Frankish kings during the early Middle Ages in Western Europe. The term "capitulary" derived from the Latin word "capitulum," which means a chapter or section. These legal codes covered a wide range of topics, including religious regulations, social customs, economic matters, military affairs, and administrative rules.
Capitularies served as a means for the Frankish kings to assert their authority and establish a centralized legal system within their realm. They provided guidelines for the governance of the kingdom and were often issued in response to specific issues or events. These laws were enforced throughout the Frankish territories, ensuring consistency and uniformity in legal practices.
Capitularies were significant in that they reflected the evolving social, political, and religious landscape of medieval Europe. They highlighted the influence of Christianity on Frankish society and introduced reforms that aimed to promote moral conduct and establish a just and orderly society.
The Carolingian dynasty, particularly Charlemagne, played a crucial role in the development and dissemination of capitularies. Charlemagne sought to consolidate his rule and impose his authority over his subjects, leading to the compilation and expansion of the legal codes.
Despite their importance, capitularies were not always widely implemented or followed uniformly. Their enforcement varied across different regions and social classes, and many provisions were often overlooked or disregarded in practice.
In later centuries, the influence of capitularies declined as feudal systems and local customs gained prominence. However, these legal codes remain a valuable source for understanding the legal, social, and cultural aspects of early medieval Europe.
Common Misspellings for CAPITULARIES
- xapitularies
- vapitularies
- fapitularies
- dapitularies
- czpitularies
- cspitularies
- cwpitularies
- cqpitularies
- caoitularies
- calitularies
- ca-itularies
- ca0itularies
- caputularies
- capjtularies
- capktularies
- capotularies
- cap9tularies
- cap8tularies
- capirularies
Etymology of CAPITULARIES
The word "Capitularies" is derived from the Latin word "capitularium", which in turn comes from "capitulum", meaning "chapter" or "heading". Capitularies refer to a collection of laws, ordinances, or decrees issued by a sovereign or religious authority, organized by chapter or topic. The term specifically came into use during the Merovingian and Carolingian periods in medieval Europe to describe such legislative texts.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
