WERGILDS Meaning and
Definition
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Wergilds, also known as wergelds or weregilds, are a concept found in ancient Germanic and Anglo-Saxon legal systems. The term originates from Old English, with "wer" meaning "man" and "geld" meaning "payment" or "compensation." Wergilds refer to a specific form of monetary compensation or restitution paid to the victim or the victim's family for crimes committed against them.
In these legal systems, wergilds were considered a way to resolve conflicts and restore social order. The amount of wergild to be paid varied depending on the nature of the crime, social status, and legal code of the particular region. The concept reflected the belief that every individual, regardless of their status, had a specific value or worth, and harming or killing them required payment to restore balance.
The payment of wergilds served as an alternative to blood feuds or other forms of violent retribution. It aimed to prevent further escalation of violence and maintain social harmony. Additionally, wergilds were seen as a way to discourage crime by imposing financial consequences on offenders, thereby deterring future wrongdoing.
The details and specific amounts of wergilds varied across different Germanic tribes and societies, and they were adjusted and modified over time. With the transition to more centralized and codified legal systems, such as the establishment of medieval kingdoms, the concept of wergilds gradually diminished, eventually being replaced by state-imposed punishments.
Overall, wergilds were an important element of Germanic and Anglo-Saxon legal traditions, serving as a means to settle disputes and ensure compensation for crimes committed against individuals in an effort to preserve social order and prevent further violence.
Common Misspellings for WERGILDS
- qergilds
- aergilds
- sergilds
- eergilds
- 3ergilds
- 2ergilds
- wwrgilds
- wsrgilds
- wdrgilds
- wrrgilds
- w4rgilds
- w3rgilds
- weegilds
- wedgilds
- wefgilds
- wetgilds
- we5gilds
- we4gilds
- werfilds
- wervilds
Etymology of WERGILDS
The word "wergilds" is derived from the Old English term "wer" which means "man" or "person", and "gild" which means "payment" or "tribute". In the context of medieval Germanic societies, wergilds referred to the amount of compensation or monetary value that had to be paid as restitution or blood money for causing injury or death to another person. The concept of wergilds was a prominent feature of the Germanic legal system, serving as a means to resolve disputes and maintain social order.
