The Laws of War in the Late Middle Ages

Many of the combatants in the European wars of the late middle ages fought for their own gain, but they observed a code of regulations, part chivalrous and part commercial which they called the ‘law of arms’. This book, originally published in 1965, examines this soldiers’ code, to understand its rules and how they were enforced. How did a soldier sue for ransom money if his prisoner would not pay it, and before what court? How did he know whether what he took by force was lawful spoil? As the answers to these and other questions reveal, the workings of the law of arms gave practical point to the contemporary cult of chivalry. It also had an important influence on the early development of ideas of international law.

1. Introduction Part 1: The Legal Basis of the Law of Arms and its Administration 2. The Legal Basis of the Law of Arms 3. The Trial of Military Cases 4. The Authority of Military Courts Part 2: The Just War and Its Conditions 5. The Legal Theory of Just War 6. The Problems of Allegiance and of Illicit War 7.The Signs of War 8. Sieges Part 3: The ‘Incidents’ of Just War 9. Gains of War and Their Division 10. The Law of Ransom Part 4: Interludes in War and Peace 11. Immunity From War 12. Letters of Marque and Defiance 13. Conclusions. Appendices: 1. The Legal Implications of ‘Appatis’ 2. The Peerage of Soldiers 3. Illustrative Cases. Bibliography. Index.

Maurice Keen