Already by the high Middle Ages, municipal law had emerged in many parts of Europe as a distinct area of law in addition to feudal law and territorial law. Municipal law originated in the legislative power of city authorities (mayor; council [administrative]; cf. Sovereign power) and the need for specific legal institutions adapted to the social and economic life of cities. Examples include urban administration, forms of property leases and joint ownership (Property), marital property and inheritance law, commercial law, bankruptcy, and maritime law in ports (cf. Maritime com…
Municipal law(664 words)
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Berger, Elisabeth, “Municipal 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 01 October 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_028116>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200128
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