Norman law

Norman law refers to the customary law of Normandy which developed between the 10th and 13th centuries following the establishment of the Vikings there and which survives today still through the legal systems of Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

History

Development between the 10th and 13th centuries

When the Vikings led by Rollo invaded Normandy in the early 10th century, Normans were subject to law originating from that of the Franks. The Duchy of Normandy was created in 911 for Rollo whose descendants up to William the Conqueror were influenced by both Frankish and Viking tradition.

Transcription of Norman customary law

Norman customary law was transcribed in two customaries in Latin by two judges for use by them and their colleagues: the Très ancien coutumier (Very ancient customary) authored between 1200 and 1245; and the Grand coutumier de Normandie (Great customary of Normandy, originally Summa de legibus Normanniae in curia laïcali) authored between 1235 and 1245.

After the French conquest of the Duchy of Normandy

The Channel Islands remained part of the Duchy of Normandy until 1204 when King Philip II Augustus of France conquered the duchy from King John of England. The islands remained in the personal possession of the King of England and were described as being a Peculiar of the Crown. They retained the Norman customary law and developed it in parallel with continental Normandy and France, albeit with different evolutions.

See also

• Clameur de haro
• Law of Jersey

External links

• An Introduction to the History of Guernsey Law
• Jersey Legal System and Constitutional Law (Institute of Law, Jersey, 2011) ISBN 978-1-908716-00-2