In Europe and especially in the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation), the holder of judicial competence or jurisdiction on a manor (Manorialism), in a court district, city, or territory was its judge-by-right (German, Gerichtsherr). Such holders of legal jurisdiction might preside over high and low, secular, ecclesiastical, manorial, communal, civil, or criminal courts of law. Accordingly, there was a vast variety of judicial authorities - ranging from king or emperor to territorial rulers (Territorial sovereignty [Holy Roman Empire]) and bishops, to the lower aris…
Judicial authority (742 words)
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Härter, Karl, “Judicial authority”, 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 31 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_019957>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190124
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