Legal Definitions - hafne

Hafne

A "hafne" refers to a place that offers shelter, safety, or a harbor, typically for ships or as a refuge.

• Example 1: In a 14th-century royal decree concerning maritime trade, the document might refer to the bustling coastal town of Bristol as a significant "hafne" for merchant vessels traveling across the English Channel.

  Explanation 1: Here, "hafne" is used in its most literal sense, denoting a major port where ships could safely anchor, load, and unload goods, and find protection from the open sea, all under the legal framework of the kingdom.

• Example 2: During a period of political unrest, a particular monastery was designated by a local lord as a "hafne" for those seeking sanctuary from persecution, granting them legal protection within its walls.

  Explanation 2: In this context, "hafne" signifies a place of refuge or sanctuary, where individuals could find legal protection and safety from external threats, much like a physical harbor protects ships.

• Example 3: An ancient land deed might describe a specific inlet along a river as a "hafne" for fishing boats, indicating its importance as a natural mooring point and a center for the local fishing industry, subject to specific communal fishing rights.

  Explanation 3: This example illustrates "hafne" as a smaller, perhaps more localized, port or sheltered area crucial for a specific economic activity (fishing), where legal rights and customs would govern its use and access.