1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Medieval History

Barbarian Law Codes

One of the factors that would contribute to the development of legal codes in the Middle Ages was the Barbarian laws, codes and customs of the peoples whose migration in the early Middle Ages would shape the political structure of Europe. These sites examine some of these early codes.
Anglo-Saxon Law - Extracts From Early Laws of the English
A collection of extracts from the Ancient Laws and Institutes of the Anglo-Saxons, translated by Benjamin Thorpe, at the Avalon Project.
Capitulary of Charlemagne Issued in the Year 802
Modern English translation of Charlemagne's law, at the Avalon Project.
Lex Frisionum
General information about the Frisian book of law, recorded during Charlemagne's time, is offered along with side-by-side versions in Latin and English or Latin and Dutch. Nicely done by Kees Nieuwenhuijsen.
Germanic Law
Modern English translations of early law codes, Carolingian law and "feudal" law are provided at Paul Halsall's Medieval Sourcebook.
The Salic Law
Ernest F. Henderson's translation of the sixth-century code of the Salian Franks, taken from Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages and placed online at the Avalon Project.
The Visigothic Code
S. P. Scott's translation of the code by anonymous authors is made available at the Library of Iberian Resources Online.

Explore Medieval History

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Medieval History
  4. Law & Legal History
  5. Barbarian Codes

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.