Tribal Custom in Anglo-Saxon Law / Being an Essay Supplemental to (1) 'The English Village Community', (2) 'The Tribal System in Wales'

Name: Tribal Custom in Anglo-Saxon Law / Being an Essay Supplemental to (1) 'The English Village Community', (2) 'The Tribal System in Wales'
Author: Frederic Seebohm

By Frederic Seebohm

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About This Book

The essay analyzes early Anglo-Saxon laws through the lens of tribal custom, using a comparative survey of neighboring and continental tribal systems to identify survivals and changes. It opens with a study of the currencies and units in which wergelds and similar fines were reckoned and paid, connecting monetary measures to social valuation. A detailed account of Cymric tribal structure, focusing on the gwely family unit and the galanas death-fine, is supplemented by evidence drawn from Beowulf and Irish practice. Continental codes and Norse laws are examined for disintegration or persistence of tribal norms under external influences, and the Anglo-Saxon laws are finally reassessed within this wider framework to clarify kin liability, homicide payments, and communal organization.

About the Author

Frederic Seebohm

Frederic Seebohm was an English historian and writer known for his contributions to economic history and legal studies. His notable works include "The English Village Community," which examines the social and economic structures of rural England, and "The Oxford Reformers," where he explores the lives and influences of key figures like John Colet, Erasmus, and Thomas More during the Renaissance. Seebohm's scholarship often focused on the intersection of law, society, and economics, particularly in the context of Anglo-Saxon customs, as seen in his essay "Tribal Custom in Anglo-Saxon Law." His writings remain significant for their insights into historical societal frameworks.