Quote:
Originally Posted by Terri Terri
WOW! La Marie looks absolutely gorgeous on this Valentine's Day...wouldn't you agree Muhler?!  
I really miss CP Mary though!   |
Indeed. Chic is the way I'd describe la Marie.
I can add a few more historical details.
The Supreme Court was formed after the introduction of Absolutism, around 1660.
Before then the king was actually the supreme court. In fact one of the most important functions of the Danish kings before then were to travel through the kingdom and preside as a kind of travelling high court judge.
That doesn't mean that the enforcements of the laws and the vedicts before 1660 were haphazard or subjected to the whims of the king. On the contrary!
People in medieval and late medieval times were almost obsessed by sticking to the letter of the law! Presumably because the law was the only fundament for the rights of the individual back then. And everybody were fully aware of the consequences of "bending" or "interpreting" the law too freely. That could backfire!
In fact the power of the Danish kings was curbed IIRC in the 1290's. That was called a Håndfæstning and was directly inspired by the Magna Carta.
People back then were perfectly aware of what went on in neighbouring countries.
According to this, the first Håndfæstning
, no Danish citizen, free or not, could be tried, imprisoned, executed or otherwise punished except after a proper trial. - Except in times of war. In which case you were, in theory, answerable for your actions afterwards.
The Old Danish Law, which existed during the middle ages was in some way superiour to the present legislation.
Nowadays, an act is legal, unless it's specifically stated in the law as being illegal.
Back then an act was considered illegal if it violated common standard or moral as viewed by your peers. I.e. the society as a whole.
- That would mean that present day speculators would be punished in medieval times because their actions violated what is (to this day) considered common moral standards. While the same speculators nowadays go free according to modern legislation.
As such they didn't need that many paragraphs in the legislation back then. Except for a number of very specific cases. Like all free men being obliged with their person to come to the defence of the kingdom, the obligation to pay taxes and so on.
As such a number of very pragmantic sentences were often handed out.
I remember one case from the 1650's I believe. A priveteer had been given a letter of marquee, but when peace broke out, he lost a very good income and turned to piracy. He was captured.
Now, instead of beheading him, it was decided to use him for something profitable for the state. He was an excellent seaman, a good leader and pretty ruthless. The solution: Let's give him a ship and send him to China. If he returns alive with his cargo, he'll be a wealthy man. If he dies on route, too bad.
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