HUNDRED COURT Meaning and
Definition
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The term "Hundred Court" refers to a historical and legal institution that existed in medieval England. "Hundred" originally referred to an administrative and territorial division comprising approximately 100 households or villages, and was headed by a "hundredman" or "hundredhere." The Hundred Court was therefore a local court that served a specific Hundred territory.
The Hundred Court was responsible for maintaining law and order within its jurisdiction. Its primary function was to administer justice, resolve disputes, and enforce the law. The court met periodically, usually every four weeks, and was presided over by the lord or sheriff of the Hundred, or sometimes a group of elected representatives.
In the Hundred Court, a wide range of cases were heard, including civil and criminal matters. Among its duties were settling land disputes, resolving inheritance issues, punishing minor offenses, and overseeing financial matters. The court was also responsible for ensuring that each household fulfilled its legal obligations, such as providing military service or paying taxes.
The Hundred Court was an integral part of the legal system in medieval England, representing a local level of jurisdiction and administration. However, with the centralization of power under the monarchy and the development of royal courts, the importance and influence of the Hundred Court gradually diminished. By the 19th century, the institution had largely been abolished, although remnants of the Hundred division can still be seen in some English place names.
Common Misspellings for HUNDRED COURT
- Hundred coupt
- Hundred coust
- Hundred cour4
- Hundred courd
- Hundred courp
- Hundred courv
- Hundred couru
- huntredcourt
- hundredchourt
- hundreadcourt
- h undred court
- hu ndred court
- hun dred court
- hund red court
- hundr ed court
- hundre d court
- hundred c ourt
- hundred co urt
- hundred cou rt
- hundred cour t
Etymology of HUNDRED COURT
The word "hundred court" has Old English origins.
The term "hundred" refers to an administrative division of land that was used in Anglo-Saxon England. It derives from the Old English word "hundrēd", which meant a group of 100. The name may have originally denoted an area of land capable of supporting 100 households.
The word "court" in this context refers to a local judicial assembly where legal matters were addressed. It comes from the Old French word "court", which ultimately traces back to the Latin word "cohors", meaning an enclosed area or courtyard. Over time, the meaning of "court" expanded to include the idea of a royal or administrative tribunal.
