Norman law

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Norman law refers to the customary law of Normandy which developed between the 10th and 13th centuries following the establishment of the Vikings there and which survives today still through the legal system of the Channel Islands.

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[edit] History

[edit] Development between the 10th and 13th centuries

When the Vikings led by Rollo invaded Normandy in the early 10th century, Normans were subject to law originating from that of the Franks. The Duchy of Normandy was created in 911 for Rollo whose descendants up to William the Conqueror were influenced by both Frank and Viking tradition.

Another significant influence on Norman law came from Islamic law and jurisprudence after the Normans had conquered the Emirate of Sicily and inherited its Islamic legal administration. In turn, the Normans introduced a number of Norman and Islamic legal concepts to England after the Norman conquest of England and may have laid the foundations for English common law.[1]

[edit] Transcription of Norman customary law

Norman customary law was transcribed in two customaries in Latin by two judges for use by them and their colleagues:[2] the Très ancien coutumier (Very ancient customary) authored between 1200 and 1245; and the Grand coutumier de Normandie (Great customary of Normandy, originally Summa de legibus Normanniae in curia laïcali) authored between 1235 and 1245.

[edit] After the French conquest of the Duchy of Normandy

The Channel Islands remained part of the Duchy of Normandy until 1204 when King Philippe Auguste of France conquered the duchy from King John of England. The islands remained in the personal possession of the king and were described as being a Peculiar of the Crown. They retained the Norman customary law and developed it in parallel with the mainland albeit with different evolutions.[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Makdisi, John A. (June 1999), “The Islamic Origins of the Common Law”, North Carolina Law Review 77 (5): 1635-1739 
  2. ^ Norman customary law
  3. ^ The Jersey Law of Contract

[edit] Online

[edit] External links

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