Law and Power in the Middle Ages

The fourth installment of the series focuses on the nexus of law and power and follows the established interdisciplinary tradition of the Carlsberg Academy Conferences on Medieval Legal History in combining approaches from legal, political, social, ecclesiastical and intellectual history. Hence this collection of essays covers themes such as royal legislative power and its limits, the power-struggles between political elites, the social impact of theological and legal concepts and debates, and the role of legislation in cases of treason and rebellion, while offering the reader a variety of regional case-studies showing law as an instrument of political power together with more wide ranging discussions of the long-term application of legal principles and practices and the development of socio-political structures within medieval European societies. Scholars and students of medieval legislation and legal history will find this book a useful contribution to the discussion about the character of vernacular legislation.