The insecurity of travel in the early and high Middle Ages: criminals, victims and their medieval and modern observers
Timothy Reuter|Janet L. Nelson
On the death of William Conqueror in 1087, anonymous author Anglo-Saxon Chronicle wrote a lengthy obituary-notice, which, among other things, he said: ‘We must not forget good order kept land, so that any man, if himself were substance, could travel unmolested throughout country with his bosom full gold.’ In this sentence, we can see all four elements our cluster issues: criminal, who waited impatiently for loot; victim, plagued fear being robbed; ruler, whose self-perception required him to act stem problem; and observer, gives, or seems have given, information either about crime general particular criminal acts. Highway robbery represents only part insecurity Middle Ages, but it was an especially dangerous kind. roads, person cut off from protection normal social environment – also dangers environment. The people you met strangers you, therefore threatening: Poitiers praises as one Conqueror's greatest achievements Normandy during reign, man did immediately take flight armed men encountered on road. As soon left home, perceived such strange dangerous.
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