Talk:Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae

Emphasis could be improved
I'm still looking at the text of this document, but the focus in the article is very much on the death penalty for refusing to convert from paganism. In fact, the document is wider than that. There is clearly an emphasis is on protecting the church, its clergy and those who seek its protection as well as outlawing certain heathen practices such as cannibalism, but there is also a focus on dealing with serious crimes like murder or rape. I'll take a look at translating the statutes - there aren't many of them. --Bermicourt (talk) 07:41, 3 May 2016 (UTC)

Copyvio revdel request
Now, this is complicated. Multiple revisions contain translations of the text (in German) which are sourced to "E. Schubert, Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae (Fs. H. Schmidt, 1993, Anhang S. 26-28):" Obviously, those are still in copyright and should be deleted. Multiple revisions also contain English translations which lack a source but should be deleted as a precaution. 198.84.253.202 (talk) 03:24, 3 June 2018 (UTC)

"Subjectivity is itself POV"
Recently made this edit with the claim that "subjectivity is itself a POV". Now is probably a good idea to point out that WP:NPOV is a core pillar of Wikipedia: it's not optional. In term, we don't use Wikivoice to describe something as, for example, "less brutal". 20:15, 9 August 2018 (UTC)


 * I've been an editor here for 10 years, so no need to explain POV/NPOV. The point I was making is that our judgement on whether a reliable source like Encyclopedia Britannica is being subjective in using e.g. "brutal" is actually an editor's POV. It is not up to us to judge the sources, but to reflect them. What is POV is when we use words like "brutal" when the sources don't. That said, it's can be a difficult area in which to get the balance right, especially when the topic is one we have strong views about. Bermicourt (talk) 21:43, 9 August 2018 (UTC)


 * No, it's not. If you've been here ten years, like myself, then you know very well what an objective statement is and what a subjective statement is. And yes, we do judge the sources for reliability, per WP:RS. Non-specialist tertiary sources are some of these least reliable sources on these topics, as evidenced by the source's historically horrendous coverage of, say, Norse myth. Regardless of the source, I strongly suggest that you review WP:NPOV before attempting to insert how "brutal" an event was into Wikivoice in the future. &#58;bloodofox: (talk) 22:14, 9 August 2018 (UTC)


 * I also know that what one person views as "objective" may be viewed by another as "subjective" because they have different perspectives or even different worldviews. I agree we assess sources for reliability, but we don't judge whether they are subjective or not and feed that into the article. A reliable source may not be at all objective. Indeed modern historians are taught to 'interpret' history and not just relate it. Add the possibility of lucrative sales with a 'new take' on history and you have every incentive to be subjective. How ironic that you're so critical of BE. I've just read another editor singing its praises! Be careful about sweeping criticism of tertiary sources; where do you think they get their historical coverage from? "History is not provable beyond doubt. All we have is what people wrote and everyone has an 'angle'." Interesting discussion. Thank you, Bloodofox. Bermicourt (talk) 07:52, 10 August 2018 (UTC)


 * Nah, you know that's wrong and not how it works here. However, I welcome you to take this ridiculous argument to WP:RSN sometime to see if you can get anyone to play along. Have fun! &#58;bloodofox: (talk) 21:55, 10 August 2018 (UTC)

German WP vwrsion
Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae 782 von Karl dem Großen erlassener Gesetzestext

Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae ist ein 782 möglicherweise während der Reichsversammlung an den Lippequellen von Karl dem Großen erlassener Gesetzestext. Er diente zur Festigung der fränkischen Macht über die soeben unterworfenen Sachsen durch Eingriffe in die sächsische Stammesverfassung. Dazu wurde die Stammesversammlung verboten, mit der Institution des Grafenamtes eine neue Gerichtsbarkeit eingerichtet und mit dem Kirchenzehnten eine neue Steuer eingeführt.

Das Ausbleiben aktiver Bekehrungsarbeit und die gleichzeitige Eintreibung des Kirchenzehnts wurden bereits von Alkuin, einem wichtigen Berater Karls des Großen, scharf kritisiert. Folglich blieb die erhoffte Wirkung weitgehend aus und das heidnische Gedankengut blieb verbreitet. Dies gipfelte schließlich 793 im erneuten Aufstand der Sachsen, nach dessen Niederwerfung die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae durch die moderatere Capitulare Saxonicum ersetzt wurde, welche eine schrittweise Eingliederung der Sachsen ins Fränkische Reich einleitete.

Die „Kapitularien“ wurden neuzeitlich in den vatikanischen Archiven durch den päpstlichen Geheimkämmerer und Gelehrten Ferdinand von Fürstenberg wiederentdeckt und 1672 in dessen 2. Ausgabe der Monumenta Paderbornensia publiziert.

Übersetzung Übersetzung bei E. Schubert, Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae (Fs. H. Schmidt, 1993, Anhang S. 26–28):

Alle stimmen dem Prinzip der höheren Fälle zu, daß die Kirchen Christi in Sachsen nicht geringere, sondern erheblich höhere Geltung haben sollen als die Götzenstätten. Wenn jemand Zuflucht in der Kirche sucht, soll er dort bis zu seiner Gerichtsverhandlung sicher sein, und niemand soll wagen, ihn mit Gewalt herauszuholen. Wegen der Ehre Gottes und der Heiligen, denen die betreffende Kirche geweiht ist, soll es dem Asylanten vor Gericht nicht an Kopf und Kragen gehen, sondern er soll seine Tat gemäß dem Urteilsspruch mit Geld büßen, soweit er es kann. Dann soll er vor den König geführt werden, und der wird ihn dorthin stecken, wohin es seiner königlichen Gnade gefällt. Sterben soll, wer gewaltsam eine Kirche erstürmt und in ihr mit Gewalt oder mit Diebsgriff etwas wegnimmt oder die Kirche in Flammen aufgehen läßt. Sterben soll, wer die vierzigtägigen Fasten vor Ostern in Verachtung des christlichen Glaubens bricht und Fleisch ißt. Aber es soll vom Priester geprüft werden, ob er nicht durch Not gezwungen war, Fleisch zu essen. Sterben soll, wer einen Bischof, einen Priester oder einen Diakon tötet. Todesstrafe erleidet der, der vom Teufel getäuscht, nach heidnischer Sitte wähnt, irgendein Mann oder eine Frau sei Hexe und Menschenfresser und sie deshalb verbrennt oder deren Fleisch verzehrt bzw. zum Verzehr weitergibt. Todesstrafe erleidet der, der nach heidnischem Brauch Leichen bestattet, indem er den Körper den Flammen preisgibt. Sterben soll, wer Heide bleiben will und unter den Sachsen sich verbirgt, um nicht getauft zu werden oder es verschmäht, zur Taufe zu gehen. Sterben soll, wer einen Menschen dem Teufel opfert und nach heidnischer Sitte den Götzen als Opfer darbringt. Sterben soll, wer mit den Heiden Ränke gegen die Christen schmiedet oder bei ihnen als Feind der Christen ausharren will. Und wer ihn dabei gegen König und Christenheit unterstützt, soll ebenfalls sterben. Dem geht es an Kopf und Kragen, der dem König als untreu erscheint. Sterben soll, wer die Tochter seines Herren raubt. Genauso soll bestraft werden, wer seinen Herrn oder seine Herrin tötet. Von der Todesstrafe in vorstehenden Fällen kann nach Zeugnis des Geistlichen abgesehen werden, falls der Betreffende freiwillig zum Priester geflohen war und die heimlich begangenen Taten gebeichtet hatte und Buße leisten wollte. Was die niedrigeren Fälle angeht, so stimmen alle darin überein, daß einer jeden Kirche ein Haupthof und zwei Hufen Landes von den Einwohnern eines Gaues, die zu jener Kirche gehören, übertragen werde, und daß je 120 Einwohner sowohl Edelinge als auch Frilinge und Laten, einen Knecht und eine Magd für diese Kirche beisteuern sollen. Und es entspricht christlichem Gebot, daß allenthalben von allen königlichen Einkünften, auch von den Friedens- und Strafgeldern, der zehnte Teil den Kirchen und Priestern zustehen soll. In gleicher Weise schreiben wir göttlichem Gebot gemäß vor, daß alle den Zehnt von ihrem Vermögen und ihrer Arbeit den Kirchen und Geistlichen abliefern sollen, und zwar sowohl die Edelinge als auch die Frilinge und die Laten; denn was Gott einem jeden Christen schenkt, muß zum Teil Gott wiedergegeben werden. An den Sonntagen sollen keine öffentlichen Zusammenkünfte und Gerichtsverhandlungen stattfinden, wenn es nicht große Not oder feindliche Angriffe erfordern. Denn am Sonntag sollen alle zur Kirche gehen, beten und Gottes Wort hören. Genauso soll es an den hohen Kirchenfesten gehalten werden. Entsprechend erscheint es sinnvoll, in diese Vorschriften einzufügen, daß alle Kinder innerhalb eines Jahres getauft werden. Wir setzen fest, daß derjenige, der ohne Erlaubnis des Pfarrers dieses verschmäht, dem „fiscus“ als Edeling 120 sol., als Friling 60 sol. und als Late 30 sol. zur Buße zu zahlen hat. Wer eine verbotene oder unerlaubte Ehe eingeht, zahlt als Edeling 60, als Friling 30 und als Late 15 sol. Wer Gelübde nach heidnischem Brauch an Quellen, Bäumen oder Hainen darbringt oder nach heidnischem Brauch opfert und ein Gemeinschaftsmahl zu Ehren der Götzen veranstaltet, zahlt als Edeling 60, als Friling 30, als Late 15 sol. Und wenn er das Geld nicht hat, soll er es im Dienste der Kirche abarbeiten. Wir befehlen, daß die christlichen Sachsen in den Kirchhöfen und nicht auf den heidnischen Grabhügeln bestattet werden. Die Wahrsager und Zauberer sollen den Kirchen und den Pfarrern ausgeliefert werden. Wenn jemand Räuber und Übeltäter, die von einer Grafschaft in die andere geflohen sind, in seinen Schutz nimmt und sieben Nächte beherbergt ohne Absicht, sie vor Gericht zu stellen, zahle er unsere Bannbuße. Das gleiche muß auch der Graf tun, wenn er sich deswegen nicht entschuldigen kann, und er verliert darüber hinaus sein Amt. Niemand soll sich unterstehen, einen anderen in Pfandknechtschaft zu halten, und wer das tut, zahle die Bannbuße. Niemand soll sich bei gleicher Strafe unterstehen, einem Menschen zu verbieten, sein Recht vor uns zu suchen. Wenn jemand keine Bürgen stellen kann, soll sein Vermögen solange in Beschlag genommen werden, bis er einen Bürgen stellt. Wenn er aber in der Zwischenzeit wagt, sein Haus zu betreten, zahlt er entweder 10 sol. oder einen Ochsen für die Verletzung des Bannes und zahlt darüber hinaus seine Schuld Wenn aber der Bürge den festgesetzten Termin nicht einhält, dann hat er selbst gemäß seiner Bürgschaft für den Schaden einzustehen. Der Schuldner aber muß dem Bürgen das Doppelte dessen erstatten, was der Bürge durch ihn an Schaden erlitten hatte. Wer Bestechungsgelder von Unschuldigen annimmt, verfällt unserem Königsbann, und wenn er, was hoffentlich nicht passiert, ein Graf ist, verliert er sein Amt. Alle Grafen sollen untereinander Frieden und Eintracht halten; und wenn unter Umständen Streit zwischen ihnen ausbricht, sollen sie sich auf unsern Beistand und unsere Entscheidung verlassen. Wenn jemand einen Grafen tötet oder seine Beseitigung plant, fällt sein Erbe dem König zu, in dessen Gewalt er ausgeliefert werden muß. Wir geben den Grafen die Kompetenz, bis zu 60 sol. in ihrem Amt Bannbußen wegen Fehdehandlungen oder Hochgerichtsfällen zu verhängen, und bis zu 15 sol. (von Schwerin liest 12) in den geringeren Fällen. Wer einem anderen Mann einen Eid leistet, soll dies am Altar der Kirche an einem festgesetzten Tage tun; und wenn er es verschmäht zu schwören, schließe er einen Vertrag und büße 15 sol., wenn er säumig bleibt, und daraufhin soll er seine Schulden völlig tilgen. Der Meineid wird gemäß sächsischem Gesetz bestraft. Wir untersagen, daß alle Sachsen Stammesversammlungen abhalten, falls nicht unser Königsbote auf unseren Befehl hin sie aufbietet. Jeder unserer Grafen soll vielmehr in seinem Amt die Versammlungen abhalten und Recht sprechen, und Pfarrer sollen darüber wachen, daß er sich entsprechend verhält. Originaltext Capitularia regum Francorum I.In: Monumenta Germaniae Historica. 1883, S. 68–70. (Digitalisat) Fontes iuris 4.In: Monumenta Germaniae Historica. 1918, S. 37–44. (Digitalisat) Constitute sunt primum de maioribus capitulis. Hoc placuit omnibus, ut ecclesiae Christi, que modo construuntur in Saxonia et Deo sacratae sunt, non minorem habeant honorem sed maiorem et excellentiorem quam vana habuissent idolorum. Si quis confugiam fecerit in ecclesiam, nullus eum de ecclesia per violentiam expellere praesumat, sed pacem habeat usque dum ad placitum praesentetur, et propter honorem Dei sanctorumque ecclesiae ipsius reverentiam concedatur ei vita et omnia membra. Emendet autem causam in quantum potuerit et ei fuerit iudicatum; et sic ducatur ad praesentiam domni regis, et ipse eum mittat ubi clementiae ipsius placuerit. Si quis ecclesiam per violentiam intraverit et in ea per vim vel furtu aliquid abstulerit vel ipsam ecclesiam igne cremaverit, morte moriatur. Si quis sanctum quadragensimale ieiunium pro despectu christianitatis contempserit et carnem comederit, morte moriatur; sed tamen consideretur a sacerdote ne forte causa necessitatis hoc cuilibet proveniat ut carnem commedat.. Si quis episcopum aut presbyterum sive diaconum interficerit, similiter capite punietur. Si quis a diabulo deceptus crediderit secundum morem paganorum, virum aliquem aut feminam strigam esse et homines commedere, et propter hoc ipsam incenderit/S. 69/vel carnem eius ad commedendum dederit vel ipsam commederit, capitali sententiae punietur. Si quis corpus defuncti hominis secundum ritum paganorum flamma consumi fecerit et ossa eius ad cinerem redierit, capitae punietur. Si quis deinceps in gente Saxonorum inter eos latens non baptizatus se abscondere voluerit et ad baptismum venire contempserit paganusque permanere voluerit, morte moriatur. Si quis hominem diabulo sacrificaverit et in hostiam more paganorum daemonibus obtulerit, morte moriatur. Si quis cum paganis consilium adversus christianos inierit vel cum illis in adversitate christianorum perdurare voluerit, morte moriatur; et quicumque hoc idem fraude contra regem vel gentem christianorum consenserit, morte moriatur. Si quis domino regi infidelis apparuerit, capitali sententia punietur. Si quis filiam domini sui rapuerit morte morietur. Si quis dominum suum vel dominam suam interficerit, simili modo punietur. Si vero pro his mortalibus criminibus latenter commissis aliquis sponte ad sacerdotem confugerit et confessione data ageri poenitentiam voluerit, testimonio sacerdotis de morte excusetur. De minoribus capitulis consenserunt omnes. Ad unamquamque ecclesiam curte et duos mansos terrae pagenses ad ecclesiam recurrentes condonant, et inter centum viginti homines, nobiles et ingenuis similiter et litos, servum et ancillam eidem ecclesiae tribuant. Et hoc Christo propitio placuit, ut undecumque census aliquid ad fiscum pervenerit, sive in frido sive in qualecumque banno et in omni redibutione ad regem pertinente, decima pars ecclesiis et sacerdotibus reddatur. Similiter secundum Dei mandatum praecipimus, ut omnes decimam partem substantiae et laboris suis ecclesiis et sacerdotibus donent: tam nobiles quam ingenui similiter et liti, iuxta quod Deus unicuique dederit christiano, partem Deo reddant. Ut in dominicis diebus conventus et placita publica non faciant, nisi forte pro magna necessitate aut hostilitate cogente, sed omnes ad ecclesiam recurrant ad audiendum verbum Dei et orationibus vel iustis operibus vacent. Similiter et in festivitatibus praeclaris Deo et ecclesiae conventui deserviant et secularia placita demittant. Similiter placuit his decretis inserere, quod omnes infantes infra annum baptizantur; et hoc statuimus, ut si quis infantem intra circulum anni ad baptismum offerre contempserit sine consilio vel licentia sacerdotis, si de nobile generi fuerit centum viginti solidos fisco conponant, si ingenuus sexaginta, si litus triginta. Si quis prohibitum vel inlicitum coniugium sibi sortitus fuerit, si nobilis solidos sexaginta; si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim. Si quis ad fontes aut arbores vel lucos votum fecerit aut aliquit more gentilium obtulerit et ad honorem daemonum commederet, si nobilis fuerit solidos sexaginta, si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim. Si vero non habuerint unde praesentaliter persolvant, ad ecclesiae servitium donentur usque dum ipsi solidi solvantur. Iubemus ut corpora christianorum Saxanorum ad cimiteria ecclesiae deferantur et non ad tumulus paganorum. Divinos et sortilegos ecelesiis et sacerdotibus dare constituimus./S. 70/ De latronibus et malefactorihus, qui de una comitatu ad alium confugium fecerint, si quis eos receperit in suam potestate et septem noctibus secum detenuerit, nisi ad praesentandum, nostrum bannum solvat. Similiter si comis eum absconderit et ad iustitiam faciendam praesentare noluerit et ad hoc excusare non potest, honorem suum perdat. De pignore: ut nullatenus alterum aliquis pignorare praesumat; et qui hoc fecerit, bannum persolvat Ut nulli hominum contradicere viam ad nos veniendo pro iustitia reclamandi aliquis praesumat; et si aliquis hoc facere conaverit, nostrum bannum persolvat Si quis homo fideiussorem invenire non potuerit, res illius in forbanno mittantur usque dnm fideiussorem praesentet. Si vero super bannum in domum suum intrare praesumpserit, aut solidos decem aut unum bovem pro emendatione ipsius banni conponat, et insuper unde debitor exstitit persolvat. Si vero fideiussor diem statutum non observaberit, tunc ipse tantum damni incurrat quantum manus sua fideiussoris exstitit; ille autem qui debitor fideiussori exstitit duplum restituat, pro eo quod fideiussorem in damnum cadere permisit. De praemiis et muneribus: ut munera super innocente nullus accipiat; et si quis hoc facere praesumpserit, nostrum bannum solvat. Et si, quod absit, forte comis hoc fecerit, honorem suum perdat. Ut universi comites pacem et concordiam ad invicem habere studeant; et si forte inter eos aliqua discordia aut conturbium ortum fuerit, aut nostrum solatium vel perfectum pro hoc non demittant. Si quis comitem interficcrit vel de eius morte consilium dederit, hereditas illius ad partem regis eveniat et in ius eius redicatur. Dedimus potestatem comitibus bannum mittere infra suo ministerio de faida vel maioribus causis in solidos LX; de minoribus vero causis comitis bannum in solidos XV constituimus. Si cuilibet homini sacramcntum debet aliquis, aframeat illum ad ecclesiam sacramenta ad diem statutum; et si iurare contempserit, fidem faciat, et solidos quindecim componat qui iactivus apparuit, et deinceps causam pleniter emendare faciat. De periuris, secundum legem Saxonorum sit. Interdiximus ut omnes Saxones generaliter conventus publicos nec faciant, nisi forte missus noster de verbo nostro eos congregare fecerit; sed unusquisque comes in suo ministerio placita et iustitias faciat. Et hoc a sacerdotibus consideretur, ne aliter faciat. Siehe auch Sachsenkriege (Karl der Große) Germanische Stammesrechte Literatur Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire (Rev. belge philol. hist.) ISSN 0035-0818 Lutz E. Von Padberg, Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae, in: Handwörterbuch zur deutschen Rechtsgeschichte I, 2. Aufl., 2008, Sp. 813–815. Ernst Schubert, Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae. In: Dieter Brosius, Christiane van den Heuvel, Ernst Hinrichs, Hajo van Lengen (Hrsg.): Geschichte in der Region. Zum 65. Geburtstag von Heinrich Schmidt, Hannover 1993, 3–28 (PDF) Normdaten (Sachbegriff): GND: 4191996-8 ÜBER DIESEN ARTIKEL Vollständige Versionsgeschichte Diskussionsseite ansehen Diskutieren Sie Verbesserungen zu diesem Artikel MEHR LESEN Christian Leberecht Heyne deutscher Schriftsteller Leopold Alois Hoffmann österreichischer Publizist und Dramatiker Franz Xaver Huber (Satiriker) österreichischer Journalist, Satiriker und Librettist Der Inhalt ist verfügbar unter CC-BY-SA 3.0, sofern nicht anders angegeben. Artikel im Browser ansehen 109.42.2.131 (talk) 14:00, 1 September 2021 (UTC)

Google translation of german WP version
Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae

The text of the law passed by Charlemagne in 782

The Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae is a legal text that was passed by Charlemagne in 782, possibly during the imperial assembly at the Lippequellen. It served to consolidate the Frankish power over the newly subjugated Saxons by interfering with the Saxon tribal constitution. For this purpose, the tribal assembly was banned, a new jurisdiction was established with the institution of the count's office, and a new tax was introduced with the church tithing.

The lack of active conversion work and the simultaneous collection of the church tithe have already been sharply criticized by Alkuin, an important advisor to Charlemagne. As a result, the hoped-for effect was largely absent and pagan ideas remained widespread. This finally culminated in 793 in the renewed uprising of the Saxons, after whose overthrow the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae was replaced by the more moderate Capitulare Saxonicum, which initiated the gradual integration of the Saxons into the Frankish Empire.

The "capitularies" were recently rediscovered in the Vatican archives by the papal secret chamberlain and scholar Ferdinand von Fürstenberg and published in 1672 in his second edition of the Monumenta Paderbornensia.

translation

Translation in E. Schubert, Die Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae (Fs. H. Schmidt, 1993, appendix pp. 26–28):

All agree with the principle of the higher cases that the churches of Christ in Saxony should not have any less, but considerably higher importance than the places of idolatry.

If someone takes refuge in the church, he should be safe there until his trial, and no one should dare to force him out. Because of the glory of God and the saints to whom the church in question is consecrated, the asylum seeker should not be at risk in court, but instead should atone for his deed with money as far as he can in accordance with the verdict. Then he is to be brought before the king, and he will put him where it pleases his royal grace.

Whoever storms a church by force and takes something away from it by force or with the grip of a thief or lets the church go up in flames should die.

Whoever breaks the forty-day fast before Easter in contempt for the Christian faith and eats meat should die. But the priest should check whether he was not compelled to eat meat by necessity.

Whoever kills a bishop, a priest or a deacon should die.

The death penalty suffers who, deceived by the devil, believes according to pagan custom that some man or woman is a witch and ogre and therefore burns them or eats their flesh or passes them on for consumption.

Anyone who buries corpses according to pagan custom by exposing the body to the flames suffers the death penalty.

Whoever wants to remain a heathen and hides among the Saxons, in order not to be baptized or to disdain to go to baptism, should die.

Whoever sacrifices a person to the devil and, according to pagan custom, offers an idol as a sacrifice should die.

Whoever plots against the Christians with the Gentiles or wants to persevere with them as an enemy of the Christians should die. And whoever supports him against the king and Christianity should also die.

It is the head and collar of him who appears to the king to be unfaithful.

Whoever steals the daughter of his master should die.

Whoever kills his master or mistress should be punished in the same way.

According to the priest's testimony, the death penalty may be waived in the above cases if the person concerned fled voluntarily to the priest and confessed to the secretly committed acts and wanted to repent.

As for the lower cases, they all agree that a main courtyard and two hooves of land are given to each church by the inhabitants of a district belonging to that church, and that every 120 inhabitants both Edelinge and Frilinge and Laten, to contribute a servant and a maid for this church.

And it corresponds to the Christian command that everywhere of all royal income, including peace and penalties, the tenth part should go to the churches and priests.

In the same way we prescribe, according to divine command, that all should deliver the tithe of their property and work to the churches and clergy, both noble and frilinge and latin; for what God gives to every Christian must in part be given back to God.

Public meetings and trials should not take place on Sundays unless there is great need or hostile attack. Because on Sunday everyone should go to church, pray and hear God's word. It should be kept in the same way at the high church festivals.

Accordingly, it makes sense to include in these regulations that all children are baptized within one year. We stipulate that whoever disdains this without the priest's permission has to pay the “fiscus” as a noble 120 sol., As a friling 60 sol. And as a late 30 sol. In penance.

Anyone entering into a prohibited or illegal marriage pays 60 as Edeling, 30 as Friling and 15 sol as Late.

Whoever makes vows according to pagan custom at springs, trees or groves, or who sacrifices according to pagan custom and organizes a communal meal in honor of idols, pays 60 as noble, 30 as friling, 30 as late. And if he does not have the money, he should work it off in the service of the Church.

We order that the Christian Saxons be buried in the church yards and not on the pagan burial mounds.

The fortune tellers and magicians are to be handed over to the churches and pastors.

If a person takes robbers and evildoers who have fled from one county to another under his protection and stays for seven nights with no intention of bringing them to justice, he pays our penance. The count must do the same if he cannot apologize for it, and he also loses his office.

Nobody should dare to hold someone else in bondage, and whoever does that pays the ban.

Nobody should dare to forbid a person to seek his rights in front of us with the same punishment.

If someone cannot provide a surety, his property should be confiscated until he provides a surety. But if he dares to enter his house in the meantime, he pays either 10 sol. Or an ox for the violation of the ban and pays his debt on top of that, but if the surety does not keep the set deadline, then he himself has according to his surety to answer for the damage. The debtor, however, has to reimburse the surety for double what the surety had suffered as a result of him.

Anyone who accepts bribes from the innocent falls under our royal spell, and if, which we hope does not happen, he is a count, he loses his office.

All counts are to keep peace and harmony with one another; and if a dispute should break out between them, they should rely on our assistance and our decision.

If someone kills a count or plans to remove him, his inheritance falls to the king, under whose power he must be extradited.

We give the counts the competence to impose up to 60 sol. In their office due to wrongdoing or high court cases, and up to 15 sol. (Von Schwerin reads 12) in the lesser cases.

Whoever swears an oath to another man should do so at the altar of the church on a appointed day; and if he refuses to swear, he will conclude a contract and pay 15 sol. if he defaults, and then he should pay off his debts completely.

Perjury is punished according to Saxon law.

We forbid all Saxons from holding tribal meetings unless our royal messenger summons them on our orders. Rather, each of our counts should hold meetings in his office and pronounce justice, and pastors should ensure that he behaves accordingly.

Original text

Capitularia regum Francorum I. In: Monumenta Germaniae Historica. 1883, pp. 68-70. (Digitized version)

Fontes iuris 4th In: Monumenta Germaniae Historica. 1918, pp. 37-44. (Digitized version)

Constitute sunt primum de maioribus capitulis.

Hoc placuit omnibus, ut ecclesiae Christi, que modo construuntur in Saxonia et Deo sacratae sunt, non minorem habeant honorem sed maiorem et excellentiorem quam vana habuissent idolorum.

Si quis confugiam fecerit in ecclesiam, nullus eum de ecclesia per violentiam expellere praesumat, sed pacem habeat usque dum ad placitum praesentetur, et propter honorem Dei sanctorumque ecclesiae ipsius reverentiam concedatur ei vita et omnia membra. Emends autem causam in quantum potuerit et ei fuerit iudicatum; et sic ducatur ad praesentiam domni regis, et ipse eum mittat ubi clementiae ipsius placuerit.

Si quis ecclesiam per violentiam intraverit et in ea per vim vel furtu aliquid abstulerit vel ipsam ecclesiam igne cremaverit, morte moriatur.

Si quis sanctum quadragensimale ieiunium pro despectu christianitatis contempserit et carnem comederit, morte moriatur; sed tamen consideretur a sacerdote ne forte causa necessitatis hoc cuilibet proveniat ut carnem commedat ..

Si quis episcopum aut presbyterum sive diaconum interficerit, similiter capite punietur.

Si quis a diabulo deceptus crediderit secundum morem paganorum, virum aliquem aut feminam strigam esse et homines commedere, et propter hoc ipsam incenderit / S. 69 / vel carnem eius ad commedendum dederit vel ipsam commederit, capitali sententiae punietur.

Si quis corpus defuncti hominis secundum ritum paganorum flamma consumi fecerit et ossa eius ad cinerem redierit, capitae punietur.

Si quis deinceps in gente Saxonorum inter eos latens non baptizatus se extra special voluerit et ad baptismum venire contempserit paganusque permanere voluerit, morte moriatur.

Si quis hominem diabulo sacrificaverit et in hostiam more paganorum daemonibus obtulerit, morte moriatur.

Si quis cum paganis consilium adversus christianos inierit vel cum illis in adversitate christianorum perdurare voluerit, morte moriatur; et quicumque hoc idem fraude contra regem vel gentem christianorum consenserit, morte moriatur.

Si quis domino regi infidelis apparuerit, capitali sententia punietur.

Si quis filiam domini sui rapuerit morte morietur.

Si quis dominum suum vel dominam suam interficerit, simili modo punietur.

Si vero pro his mortalibus criminibus latenter commissis aliquis sponte ad sacerdotem confugerit et confessione data ageri poenitentiam voluerit, testimonio sacerdotis de morte excusetur.

De minoribus capitulis consenserunt omnes. Ad unamquamque ecclesiam curte et duos mansos terrae pagenses ad ecclesiam recurrentes condonant, et inter centum viginti homines, nobiles et ingenuis similiter et litos, servum et ancillam eidem ecclesiae tribuant.

Et hoc Christo propitio placuit, ut undecumque census aliquid ad fiscum pervenerit, sive in frido sive in qualecumque banno et in omni redibutione ad regem pertante, decima pars ecclesiis et sacerdotibus reddatur.

Similiter secundum Dei mandatum praecipimus, ut omnes decimam partem substantiae et laboris suis ecclesiis et sacerdotibus donent: tam nobiles quam ingenui similiter et liti, iuxta quod Deus unicuique dederit christiano, partem Deo reddant.

Ut in dominicis diebus conventus et placita publica non faciant, nisi forte pro magna necessitate aut hostilitate cogente, sed omnes ad ecclesiam recurrant ad audiendum verbum Dei et orationibus vel iustis operibus vacent. Similiter et in festivitatibus praeclaris Deo et ecclesiae conventui deserviant et secularia placita demittant.

Similiter placuit his decretis inserere, quod omnes infantes infra annum baptizantur; et hoc statuimus, ut si quis infantem intra circulum anni ad baptismum offerre contempserit sine consilio vel licentia sacerdotis, si de nobile generi fuerit centum viginti solidos fisco conponant, si ingenuus sexaginta, si litus triginta.

Si quis prohibitum vel inlicitum coniugium sibi sortitus fuerit, si nobilis solidos sexaginta; si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim.

Si quis ad fontes aut arbores vel lucos votum fecerit aut aliquit more gentilium obtulerit et ad honorem daemonum commederet, si nobilis fuerit solidos sexaginta, si ingenuus triginta, si litus quindecim. Si vero non habuerint unde praesentaliter persolvant, ad ecclesiae servitium donentur usque dum ipsi solidi solvantur.

Iubemus ut corpora christianorum Saxanorum ad cimiteria ecclesiae deferantur et non ad tumulus paganorum.

Divinos et sortilegos ecelesiis et sacerdotibus dare constituimus./S. 70 /

De latronibus et malefactorihus, qui de una comitatu ad alium confugium fecerint, si quis eos receperit in suam potestate et septem noctibus secum detenuerit, nisi ad praesentandum, nostrum bannum solvat. Similiter si comis eum absconderit et ad iustitiam faciendam praesentare noluerit et ad hoc excusare non potest, honorem suum perdat.

De pignore: ut nullatenus alterum aliquis pignorare praesumat; et qui hoc fecerit, bannum persolvat

Ut nulli hominum contradicere viam ad nos veniendo pro iustitia reclamandi aliquis praesumat; et si aliquis hoc facere conaverit, nostrum bannum persolvat

Si quis homo fideiussorem invenire non potuerit, res illius in forbanno mittantur usque dnm fideiussorem praesentet. Si vero super bannum in domum suum intrare praesumpserit, aut solidos decem aut unum bovem pro emendatione ipsius banni conponat, et insuper unde debitor exstitit persolvat. Si vero fideiussor diem statutum non observaberit, tunc ipse tantum damni incurrat quantum manus sua fideiussoris exstitit; illegal autem qui debitor fideiussori exstitit duplum restituat, pro eo quod fideiussorem in damnum cadere permisit.

De praemiis et muneribus: ut munera super innocente nullus accipiat; et si quis hoc facere praesumpserit, nostrum bannum solvat. Et si, quod absit, forte comis hoc fecerit, honorem suum perdat.

Ut universi comites pacem et concordiam ad invicem habere studeant; et si forte inter eos aliqua discordia aut conturbium ortum fuerit, aut nostrum solatium vel perfectum pro hoc non demittant.

Si quis comitem interficcrit vel de eius morte consilium dederit, hereditas illius ad partem regis eveniat et in ius eius redicatur.

Dedimus potestatem comitibus bannum in the middle infra suo ministerio de faida vel maioribus causis in solidos LX; de minoribus vero causis comitis bannum in solidos XV constituimus.

Si cuilibet homini sacramcntum debet aliquis, aframeat illum ad ecclesiam sacramenta ad diem statutum; et si iurare contempserit, fidem faciat, et solidos quindecim componat qui iactivus apparuit, et deinceps causam pleniter emendare faciat.

De periuris, secundum legem Saxonorum sit.

Interdiximus ut omnes Saxones generaliter conventus publicos nec faciant, nisi forte missus noster de verbo nostro eos congregare fecerit; sed unusquisque comes in suo ministerio placita et iustitias faciat. Et hoc a sacerdotibus consideretur, ne aliter faciat.

See also

Saxon Wars (Charlemagne)

Germanic tribal rights

literature

Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire (Rev. belge philol. Hist.) ISSN 0035-0818

Lutz E. Von Padberg, Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae, in: Concise Dictionary of German Legal History I, 2nd edition, 2008, Sp. 813–815.

Ernst Schubert, The Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae. In: Dieter Brosius, Christiane van den Heuvel, Ernst Hinrichs, Hajo van Lengen (eds.): History in the region. On the occasion of Heinrich Schmidt's 65th birthday, Hanover 1993, 3–28 (PDF)

Norm data (technical term): GND: 4191996-8

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Christian Leberecht Heyne

German writer

Leopold Alois Hoffmann

Austrian publicist and playwright

Franz Xaver Huber (satirist)

Austrian journalist, satirist and librettist

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