Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Truce of God

The Truce of God is a document written in the hopes of mitigating feudal violence. Pages 21-22(WSB). It was written in 1063.

  1. Called for peace from sunset on Wednesday to sunrise on Monday. During these four days and five nights, no man/woman may "assault, wound, or slay another, or attack, seize, or destroy a castle, burg, or villa, by craft or violence."
  2. If anyone violated that peace, or truce of God, they would be exiled for 30 years after making compensation for caused hardship. If they fail to do that, they will be excommunicated.
  3. One can neither talk nor give advice to exiled person unless it consists of them doing penance or leaving the bishop arch
  4. If any violator dies during exiled time, no one shall visit him or take possessions.
  5. Truce of God also includes stealing, no one may take another’s' possessions during days of peace. Will be excommunicated unless one makes satisfaction.
  6. During days of peace, no one shall make hostile expedition unless summoned by the count.
  7. All merchants who pass through your land shall have peace.
  8. "You shall also keep this peace every day of the week from the beginning of Advent to the octave of Epiphany and from the beginning of Lent to the octave of Easter, and from the feast of Rogations to the octave of Pentecost."
  9. Priests must pray on feast days and Sundays for peacekeepers and curse peace breakers.
  10. If anyone has been accused of violating the peace and denies it, one must take communion and undergo hot iron. If found guilty must do penance for 7 years.

This document is basically telling Christians how to live. In a way, it is similar to the 10 commandments.

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