Legal Definitions - bannum

The term bannum is a historical legal concept referring to a formal public proclamation or edict, typically issued by a sovereign, lord, or other authority. It often carried the weight of law and could include a command, a prohibition, or a summons, usually accompanied by stated penalties for non-compliance. In some contexts, it also signified a formal exclusion or banishment.

• Example 1: Royal Proclamation of Outlawry

  In a medieval kingdom, if a powerful baron openly defied the king, the monarch might issue a bannum throughout the realm. This proclamation would publicly declare the baron a traitor and an enemy of the crown, forbidding any subject from offering him shelter, food, or assistance, under penalty of severe punishment. This effectively made the baron an outlaw, stripped of his protections and rights.

  How it illustrates the term: This example demonstrates bannum as a formal public declaration by a sovereign authority, imposing a prohibition (aiding the baron) and carrying a severe penalty for disobedience, leading to the exclusion and banishment (outlawry) of the individual.

• Example 2: Town Edict on Public Order

  Consider a bustling market town in 17th-century Europe. To maintain order and prevent crime, the town council might issue a bannum stating that all public houses must cease serving patrons by a specific hour, and that no public gatherings are permitted in the main square after dark. The proclamation would warn that anyone found in violation would face a substantial fine or imprisonment.

  How it illustrates the term: Here, bannum represents a formal public edict from a local governing authority, imposing a clear prohibition (no gatherings after dark) with a specified penalty for non-compliance, aimed at regulating public behavior.

• Example 3: Ecclesiastical Exclusion

  In a historical religious context, if an individual committed a grave offense against church doctrine or community standards, a church authority might issue a bannum against them. This proclamation would publicly declare the individual's excommunication, formally excluding them from the community of believers and forbidding them from participating in religious sacraments or services.

  How it illustrates the term: This example shows bannum as a formal public declaration of exclusion or banishment, issued by an authoritative body (the church) with significant social and spiritual consequences for the individual concerned.