Legal Definitions - laborariis

laborariis

Historically, laborariis referred to a specific type of legal order or writ issued in ancient times. It was directed at individuals who were capable of working and had no other source of income or means of support, but who persistently refused to engage in labor throughout the year.

Essentially, this writ was a legal mechanism to compel able-bodied persons, who were otherwise dependent or a potential burden on society, to contribute through work when they had no alternative way to sustain themselves.

• Example 1: The Idle Villager

  Imagine a medieval village where a young man, fit and healthy, has no land of his own, no trade, and no family wealth to rely upon. Despite repeated offers of work in the fields or assisting local artisans, he consistently refuses to take on any employment, preferring to live idly and depend on the goodwill of others. In such a scenario, a local lord or magistrate, concerned about social order and productivity, might issue a laborariis to legally compel him to accept available work, as he has no other legitimate means of support.

• Example 2: Post-Plague Labor Shortage

  Consider a period following a devastating plague, where a significant portion of the workforce has been lost, and labor is desperately needed for farming and rebuilding. An able-bodied individual, who survived the plague and has no inherited property or other income, refuses to take up any of the numerous job opportunities available, despite being capable. The community, facing economic hardship and a severe labor shortage, might resort to a laborariis to force this person to contribute their labor, ensuring the community's survival and preventing them from becoming a drain on scarce resources.

• Example 3: The Unwilling Apprentice

  In an early guild system, a young man is orphaned and has no family to support him. He is offered an apprenticeship in a valuable trade, which would provide him with lodging, food, and a future livelihood. However, he stubbornly refuses to commit to the work, despite having no other prospects for survival and being physically capable of the tasks. To prevent him from becoming a vagrant or a burden on the community, and to ensure he contributes to society, a legal authority might issue a laborariis to mandate his participation in the apprenticeship or other suitable work.