Legal Definitions - accredulitare

Accredulitare is a historical legal term that describes the act of clearing oneself of an accusation or an alleged offense through the solemn taking of an oath.

In historical legal contexts, particularly in medieval European systems, an individual accused of a wrongdoing could sometimes "accredulitare" themselves by swearing a formal oath before an authority, such as a judge, a lord, or a religious figure. This oath served as a declaration of innocence or a promise to rectify a situation, and if accepted, it would effectively "purge" or absolve the person of the accusation or offense.

• Example 1: Medieval Theft Accusation

  Imagine a medieval village where a farmer is accused of stealing a neighbor's chickens. In certain historical legal systems, instead of a lengthy trial, the farmer might have been allowed to accredulitare himself by swearing a solemn oath before the local lord or a religious figure, declaring his innocence. If accepted, this oath would effectively "purge" the accusation against him, clearing his name in the community.

• Example 2: Feudal Debt Dispute

  Consider a dispute between two merchants in a feudal town, where one accuses the other of failing to repay a debt. Rather than resorting to physical combat or a complex legal proceeding, the accused merchant might have been permitted to accredulitare their position by taking a formal oath, swearing before a magistrate or a guild master that the debt had either been paid or never existed. This sworn statement would serve to absolve them of the alleged financial obligation.

• Example 3: Ecclesiastical Accusation

  In an ecclesiastical court of the past, a parishioner might be accused of a minor moral transgression, such as gossiping maliciously or failing to observe a religious fast. To avoid more severe penance or excommunication, the individual might be given the chance to accredulitare themselves. This would involve swearing an oath of repentance, affirming their adherence to church teachings, or denying the specific transgression, thereby clearing their spiritual record in the eyes of the church authorities.