[Prev Page][Contents][Next Page]

Medieval Society

Legal Status: Privilege

The Latin roots of the word privilege gives us an entrée into our third way of viewing medieval society, from the legal perspective. The word literally means "private law" (which is why "priviledge" is the wrong spelling; the word doesn't mean "private ledge"!). A great deal of what constituted formal social standing came in the form of privileges. These were for the most part not exemptions from otherwise universal laws or taxes (which is the sense the word has acquired in modern times), but were more in the form of special powers (though exemptions also existed, particularly exemptions from tolls and levies). So, for example, a privilege might be for a noble to mint his own coins, or for a town to have its own government, or for a monastery to fish a stretch of river.

The legal perspective also has the advantage for the researcher that documents exist, in the form of court records, charters, and legislation. In fact, the legalistic description of medieval society was one of the first undertaken by modern historians, in the nineteenth century. It was superseded by other approaches in the twentieth century, so much so that you have to go looking for older books to explore this approach now. I find the perspective worthwhile because it again lets the student look at medieval society in a significantly different light.

This survey will necessarily be eclectic and rather superficial. It is intended to raise some basic points and to give a flavor, not to provide detailed analysis. That said, I'll look at these specific groups: clergy, the nobility, citizens of towns, women, and children. I'll also briefly look at three groups on the fringes of society: the infirm, members of dishonorable trades, and criminals.