Sanctuary, House-Peace, and the Traditionalism of Alfred's Laws
Stefan Jurasinski
Prior to the reign of Alfred Great, sanctuary protections appear have been offered only by ecclesiastical buildings and restricted those hoping avoid punishment. Alfred's laws extend these even private dwellings as well persons threatened with non-official forms violence (such feuds). They would thus seem be innovative, yet scholarship has resisted notion that constitute reforms; some assumed depend on much older Germanic folk-laws feuding. The present article suggests show king attempting give rituals expectations penance a more pronounced place in England's secular law, an aim explicitly evident other clauses his code. protection afford, it is argued, inheres not which takes but instead contingent behaviour disputants.
Journal of Legal History