Laws of Æthelstan

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The Laws of Æthelstan are a series of early 10th-century English legal codes issued by King Æthelstan that helped consolidate royal authority and standardize justice across his kingdom.

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Laws of Æthelstan canonical 1

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Predicate Object
instanceOf Anglo-Saxon law code
legal code
medieval legal text
aim consolidation of royal authority
protection of the church
reduction of blood feuds
standardization of justice
strengthening of central governance
appliesToJurisdiction early medieval England
containsProvision penalties for breach of the king’s peace
penalties for perjury
penalties for theft
rules on compensation scales
rules on sureties
rules on witness requirements
country Kingdom of England
date early 10th century
endTime c. 939
follows Laws of Alfred the Great NERFINISHED
Laws of Edward the Elder NERFINISHED
earlier Anglo-Saxon customary law
hasPart Exeter law code NERFINISHED
Fonthill letter-related provisions
Grately law code NERFINISHED
London and Kentish trading regulations
influenced development of English royal justice
later Anglo-Saxon law codes
influencedBy Christian doctrine NERFINISHED
canon law
issuedBy King Æthelstan of England NERFINISHED
issuer Æthelstan NERFINISHED
language Old English
mainSubject church and secular relations
coinage regulation
compensation and fines
criminal law
judicial procedure
oaths and ordeals
public order
royal authority
theft and punishment
trade regulation
preservedIn medieval manuscript collections of Anglo-Saxon laws
regulates harbouring of thieves
minting of coins
ordeals as legal proof
payment of wergild
sanctuary in churches
trading practices
use of tithes
startTime c. 924

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Anglo-Saxon law codifiedIn Laws of Æthelstan