Legal Definitions - conjuration

Conjuration is a historical legal term that carried two distinct meanings in earlier legal systems.

Historically, conjuration could refer to a secret agreement or plot formed by a group of individuals who bound themselves by an oath or solemn promise to undertake an action intended to cause significant public harm or disruption. This meaning is akin to what might today be termed a conspiracy, but with a strong emphasis on the formal commitment made by the plotters.

• Example: In a 16th-century kingdom, a group of disgruntled lords might have secretly met and sworn an oath of loyalty to each other, planning to overthrow the monarch and install a new ruler, thereby risking civil war and widespread societal chaos.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates conjuration because it involves a compact made by individuals who bind themselves by an oath to commit an act (overthrowing the monarch) that would result in severe public harm (political instability, potential civil war).

In a separate historical context, conjuration also specifically denoted the offense of attempting to communicate with or summon evil spirits, demons, or other supernatural entities. The primary aim of such an act was typically to uncover hidden secrets, acquire forbidden knowledge, or achieve a desired outcome through supernatural intervention. This interpretation is closely linked to historical accusations of witchcraft and sorcery.

• Example: During the Salem witch trials era, an individual might have been accused of conjuration if they were observed performing rituals, reciting incantations, or using specific talismans with the alleged purpose of invoking a spirit to reveal the identity of a thief or to cause misfortune to a rival.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates conjuration in its supernatural sense as it involves the alleged attempt to confer with evil spirits (through rituals and incantations) to discover a secret (identity of a thief) or effect a purpose (cause misfortune), aligning with historical accusations of sorcery.