Legal Definitions - utlage

An utlage refers to an individual who has been declared an outlaw by legal authority. Historically, this meant a person was placed outside the protection of the law, often for failing to appear in court after being summoned, or for committing serious crimes and fleeing justice. Such a declaration could result in the forfeiture of their property and, in extreme cases, allowed anyone to kill them with impunity. The concept is largely archaic in modern legal systems, but it represents a historical status of being completely deprived of legal rights and protections.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of an utlage:

• Historical Fugitive: In medieval England, if a person accused of a serious felony, such as murder, repeatedly failed to appear in court after being formally summoned, they could eventually be declared an utlage. This declaration would strip them of all legal rights, meaning they could be apprehended or even killed by anyone without legal consequence, and their property would be seized by the Crown.

  This illustrates an utlage as someone who has actively defied the legal system by not appearing in court, leading to the loss of all legal protection and rights.

• Rebel Against Authority: Imagine a powerful lord in the 12th century who openly defied the king's decrees, refused to pay taxes, and raised a private army against royal authority. The king's court might declare this lord an utlage, effectively removing any legal standing or protection he once held under the kingdom's laws. This would legitimize any action taken against him, including confiscation of his lands and titles, and allow loyal subjects to pursue him without fear of legal repercussions.

  Here, the utlage status is applied to someone who has fundamentally rejected and acted against the established legal and political order, resulting in their complete legal disenfranchisement.

• Literary/Folklore Context: In the tales of Robin Hood, Robin and his Merry Men are often depicted as utlages. They live outside the king's law in Sherwood Forest, having been declared outlaws for various acts of rebellion against corrupt officials. While they operate under their own code of justice, they lack any formal legal protection from the state, making them targets for the Sheriff of Nottingham and other royal authorities.

  This example shows how the term utlage signifies individuals who exist beyond the reach and protection of the formal legal system, even if they perceive their actions as just.