Legal Definitions - dei judicium

Dei judicium refers to a historical legal practice, primarily found in medieval Europe, known as a trial by ordeal. It literally translates from Latin as "God's judgment." This system was based on the belief that a divine power would intervene in a physical test or dangerous situation to reveal the guilt or innocence of an accused person, thereby delivering a supernatural verdict.

Here are some examples illustrating dei judicium:

• Imagine a peasant in the 12th century accused of arson. To determine their guilt or innocence, they might be subjected to an ordeal by hot iron. The accused would be required to carry a red-hot piece of iron for a specified distance. Their hand would then be bandaged, and after a few days, the bandage would be removed. If the wound was healing cleanly and showed no signs of infection, it was interpreted as God's intervention, proving their innocence. However, if the wound was festering or severely inflamed, it was seen as a sign of divine condemnation, confirming their guilt. This demonstrates dei judicium because the physical outcome of the ordeal, rather than human evidence or testimony, was believed to be a direct manifestation of God's judgment.

• Consider a dispute between two knights over a claim of betrayal in the early Middle Ages. Instead of presenting witnesses or documents, the court might order a trial by combat. The two knights would engage in a duel, often to the death or until one yielded. The victor was not merely seen as the stronger fighter, but as the one whose cause was righteous and favored by God. The divine power was believed to grant victory to the innocent party, thus delivering a verdict on the accusation. This illustrates dei judicium because the outcome of the physical confrontation was accepted as a direct pronouncement from God regarding the truth of the matter.