Legal Definitions - effusio sanguinis

Effusio sanguinis is a historical legal term, originating from Latin, that refers to two interconnected concepts in medieval law:

• First, it denotes the actual shedding of blood, typically as a result of violence, injury, or assault.
• Second, and often more significantly in practice, it refers to the specific fine or penalty imposed for such an act of blood-shedding. In historical English law, the right to collect this fine was frequently granted by the Crown to local lords of manors, empowering them to administer justice and collect revenue for violent offenses within their jurisdiction. This fine was also sometimes known as "bloodwite" or "bloodwit."

Here are some examples illustrating the application of effusio sanguinis:

• Example 1 (The act of shedding blood):

  During a heated argument over a disputed property boundary, two neighboring farmers in a medieval village come to blows. One farmer strikes the other with a farming implement, causing a deep gash on his arm that bleeds profusely.

  Explanation: This situation directly illustrates the first meaning of effusio sanguinis, as it describes the physical act of blood being shed due to a violent altercation between individuals.

• Example 2 (The fine or penalty for accidental injury):

  A miller's apprentice, while operating a grinding stone, accidentally allows a piece of machinery to strike a customer, causing a minor but visible head wound that bleeds. The local lord, who holds the right of effusio sanguinis for his manor, imposes a small fine on the miller for the injury caused by his apprentice, ensuring order and collecting revenue for the incident within his jurisdiction.

  Explanation: Here, the term refers to the penalty collected by the lord for the shedding of blood, even if accidental, demonstrating the historical power of manorial lords to levy fines for such incidents within their domain.

• Example 3 (The fine or penalty for intentional violence):

  A disgruntled merchant, in a fit of anger, intentionally strikes a rival merchant with a heavy purse, breaking the rival's nose and causing significant bleeding. The injured merchant brings a complaint before the local court, which, acting under the authority of the manor lord who possesses the right of effusio sanguinis, orders the aggressor to pay a substantial fine to the lord and potentially provide restitution to the injured party.

  Explanation: This example highlights the application of effusio sanguinis as a serious offense leading to a significant penalty. It illustrates how the fine could be imposed by authorized legal powers for more egregious acts of blood-shedding, serving both as punishment and a source of revenue.