Legal Definitions - lex Langobardorum

The term lex Langobardorum (also known as Lex Longobardorum) refers to the body of laws established and followed by the Lombards, a Germanic people who ruled significant parts of Italy from the 6th to the 8th century AD. This legal system was distinct from the Roman law that continued to govern the Roman population living in the same territories. Under the principle of "personality of laws," individuals were typically subject to the laws of their ethnic group. The most famous compilation of Lombard law is the Edict of Rothari, issued in 643 AD, which codified many of their traditional customs and legal practices.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of lex Langobardorum:

• Property Dispute Between Lombards: Imagine two Lombard farmers, Grimwald and Faroald, living in 7th-century Tuscany, who are disputing the ownership of a particular pastureland. Because both individuals are Lombards, their legal dispute would be resolved according to the lex Langobardorum. A Lombard court or official would apply the specific rules concerning land ownership, inheritance, and dispute resolution as outlined in the Edict of Rothari, rather than relying on Roman property law principles.
• Criminal Act Involving Different Ethnicities: Consider a scenario where a Lombard warrior, Aldaric, is accused by a Roman merchant, Gaius, of stealing a valuable horse from his stable in a Lombard-controlled town. This situation highlights the "personality of laws." While Aldaric, as a Lombard, would be judged under the provisions of the lex Langobardorum for the alleged theft, Gaius, as a Roman, would typically have his rights to property and the definition of his loss protected under Roman law principles. The legal process would need to navigate the application of these two distinct legal systems to ensure justice for both parties based on their respective ethnic laws.
• Compensation for Injury: Suppose a Lombard blacksmith, Rodoald, accidentally causes a severe injury to another Lombard, Perctarit, during a communal hunt, resulting in a broken arm. Under the lex Langobardorum, particularly as detailed in the Edict of Rothari, such an injury would not necessarily lead to a blood feud or solely punitive measures. Instead, the law would prescribe a specific system of compensation, often a fixed monetary or material payment (similar to "wergild" for personal injury), that Rodoald would owe Perctarit for the harm caused. This demonstrates the detailed and specific provisions of Lombard law for personal injury and restitution.