Legal Definitions - in pace Dei et regis

in pace Dei et regis is a historical Latin legal phrase meaning "in the peace of God and the king." It refers to a concept in medieval law where certain places, times, or individuals were considered to be under a special, heightened state of protection, enforced by both religious and royal authority. Any disturbance or violence within this "peace" was viewed as a grave offense, not only against the victim but also against God and the monarch, carrying severe penalties. It underscored the idea that order and justice were divinely sanctioned and royally maintained.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Imagine a medieval church or monastery that served as a sanctuary. If someone committed an act of violence, such as an assault or a murder, within the consecrated walls of this sacred space, it was not merely a common crime. It was considered a profound violation of the sanctity of the place, an offense against God, and a direct challenge to the king's authority to maintain order and justice in his realm. The perpetrator would be judged as having broken the "peace of God and the king," incurring much harsher penalties than if the same act occurred outside such a specially protected area.

• Consider a time when a king declared a special "King's Peace" for a specific period, perhaps around a major religious festival or during a truce between warring noble factions. During this declared period, all subjects were expected to refrain from violence and uphold order. If a lord or knight engaged in fighting, raiding, or other acts of aggression during this specific, royally sanctioned peace, their actions would be considered a direct affront to the king's authority and a breach of the divinely sanctioned order. Such an act would fall under the severe condemnation of violating the "peace of God and the king."

• Historically, certain roads or pilgrimage routes might have been designated as being under the special protection of both the crown and the church to ensure safe passage. If bandits attacked travelers on such a designated "royal highway" or a pilgrim's path, their crime would be more severe than a typical robbery. It would be seen as a direct challenge to the king's ability to ensure safe passage for his subjects and a sacrilege against those undertaking a religious journey, thus violating the "peace of God and the king."