Legal Definitions - ligula

A ligula was a historical legal document, specifically a written copy or transcript of an official court record or a property deed.

In historical legal contexts, before the advent of modern printing and copying technologies, official records like court proceedings, judgments, and property transfers were meticulously recorded in large books or rolls. When an individual or another court needed an official reference or proof of such a record, a scribe or clerk would create a precise, handwritten copy. This authenticated copy was known as a ligula.

• Example 1: Proof of a Court Judgment

  Imagine a situation in 14th-century England where a local lord needed to enforce a judgment from his manorial court against a tenant who had failed to perform their feudal duties. The original judgment was recorded in the court's official roll, a large parchment book. To provide the lord with official proof of the judgment for enforcement, a clerk would create a handwritten copy of the relevant entry from the court roll, detailing the court's decision and the tenant's obligations. This authenticated copy would be considered a ligula.

  This example illustrates a ligula as a transcript of a court roll, providing an official record of a legal decision for enforcement.

• Example 2: Evidence of a Property Transfer

  Consider a merchant in 15th-century Florence who had recently purchased a valuable piece of land within the city walls. The original deed, detailing the transfer of ownership from the seller to the merchant, was officially registered and kept in the city's central archives. To ensure the merchant had a personal, verifiable record of his new property and could prove ownership if challenged, a city scribe would produce a precise, handwritten copy of the registered deed. This authenticated copy, bearing official seals, would serve as a ligula.

  Here, the ligula functions as a transcript of a deed, providing a verifiable record of a property transaction for the new owner.

• Example 3: Documentation of an Inheritance

  In 16th-century France, after the death of a wealthy landowner, his last will and testament were officially presented and recorded in the local ecclesiastical court's rolls, which handled probate matters. One of the heirs needed a formal document to claim their specific inheritance, which was detailed in the will. A court official would prepare a certified, handwritten copy of the will as it appeared in the court's official record. This official copy, used to prove the heir's entitlement, would function as a ligula.

  This example demonstrates a ligula as a copy of a court roll entry, specifically documenting an inheritance and serving as proof for the heir to claim their assets.