credible place, private court, eighth law-courts

Szepeshely
Pillory 1
Convent of Pannonhalma 2
St Bernard
Paul Nagymartoni
Men
credible place

One of the institutes of Hungarian authenticated literacy: theses were chapters and convents, which issued authentic charters partly by juridical command, partly to find private or juridical persons. They started to function in the 13th century and continued their activity till 1874. There were credible places near residence- and community chapters, and in several Benedictine, Premontrian and Crusade convents. Each credible place had its fixed territory where they could function by external commands. In the Middle Ages there were three credible places, the sphere of authority of which extended over the whole country: the chapter of Buda, the chapter of Fehérvár and the Johannite convent of Fehérvár.

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private court

The legal court of the landlord. Its power expanded over his own villeins and servants who had no possession, living on his estate. He could judge only in smaller cases, that is theft. Public crimes did not belong to his jurisdiction. The landlord himself rarely took part in the trials personally, trials were carried in the presence of his chief magistrate. Appeals could be sent to the county law court.

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eighth law-courts

Law courts of the High Courts of Justice held on the eighth day following bigger ecclesiastic festivals. Law courts did not function continuously, meetings were held only on these special days. The number of these days increased gradually, such meetings lasted for several weeks, sometimes for more than two months.

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