Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Customary law
(1,828 words)

1. Definition and significance

Early modern jurists defined customary law (Latin, consuetudo or observantia) essentially as law established by longstanding popular usage (Latin, ius longo populi usu introductum). Accordingly, it was not introduced by a legislative act (Law [statute]), such as princely or statute law. It was rather a longstand…

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Garré, Roy, “Customary law”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_020229>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170206



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