User:Seraphim System/sandbox/homicide

The murder fine or was originally established in medieval English law by the Leges Henrici Primi. Following the Norman Conquest of England, in cases where an individual was killed and no "presentment of Englishry" was made proving the victim was English, a fine would be levied, usually upon the "whole hundred in common". The primary meaning of murdurum was murder fine until the murder fine was abolished by the Engleschrie Act of 1340

The king did not have jurisdiction over homicides until the Norman conquest of England. Anglo Saxon laws had additional requirements for the king's involvement, such as a breach of the peace that had been declared by the king, an insult to his personal dignity or injury to his interests as warlord or dominus. The 12th century text Dialogus de Scaccario explains that after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Norman lords were ambushed by the English and responded with "violent measures...with various refinements of torture". When the assassinations continued despite these measures William I decreed that a fine would be imposed on the hundred whenever a Frenchman was found slain. Even in cases where the identity of the victim was unknown, any body that was found was presumed French unless a presentment of Englishry was made to prove the deceased had been English.Anglicization of Norman policies was underway by the start of Henry I reign, and Henry's cornonation charter had incorporated the murder fine into the Leges Edwardi Confessoris.

The four earliest known sources for the murder fine are Willelmi articuli decem. Leges Henrici Primi, Leges Edwardi Confessoris, Leis Willelme

Under Leges Henrici the fine was 46 marks. The counties of Cornwall, Shropshire and Yorkshire were exempt from the fine.