Amerciamenta Hominum: A Deep Dive into Its Legal Definition and History
Definition & meaning
Amercimenta hominum is a legal term that refers to the right of a lord to collect fines, known as amercements, imposed on their men by the king's court. When a lord's men are amerced, the fines are typically paid into the royal treasury. However, the lord can petition the king to have these fines reimbursed from the royal funds, creating a unique financial relationship between the lord and the crown.
Legal use & context
This term is primarily used in the context of feudal law, which governs the relationships between lords and their vassals. It is relevant in areas of law that deal with property rights, feudal obligations, and historical legal practices. Users may encounter this term in legal documents or discussions related to historical land rights or disputes over fines. Legal templates from US Legal Forms can assist in managing related documentation.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A lord whose vassals were fined for a minor offense in the king's court can submit a request to the king for the fines to be returned to him, as the fines were initially collected from his men.
Example 2: A feudal lord may find that repeated amercements against his men affect his financial standing, leading him to seek a formal arrangement with the crown to minimize these penalties. (hypothetical example)