<P> The trial of Peter von Hagenbach by an ad hoc tribunal of the Holy Roman Empire in 1474 , was the first `` international '' war crimes trials and also of command responsibility . Hagenbach was put on trial for atrocities committed during the occupation of Breisach , found guilty , and beheaded . Since he was convicted for crimes , `` he as a knight was deemed to have a duty to prevent '' , although Hagenbach defended himself by arguing that he was only following orders from the Duke of Burgundy , Charles the Bold , to whom the Holy Roman Empire had given Breisach . </P>
<P> The trial of Peter von Hagenbach by an ad hoc tribunal of the Holy Roman Empire in 1474 , was the first `` international '' war crimes trials and also of command responsibility . Hagenbach was put on trial for atrocities committed during the occupation of Breisach , found guilty , and beheaded . Since he was convicted for crimes , `` he as a knight was deemed to have a duty to prevent '' , although Hagenbach defended himself by arguing that he was only following orders from the Duke of Burgundy , Charles the Bold , to whom the Holy Roman Empire had given Breisach . </P>
when was the idea for putting war criminals on trial first developed
when was the idea for putting war criminals on trial first developed
1474
1474