Grave Robbery in Early Mediaeval Frankish Laws

Abstract

Almost all German codices – except for Lex Saxonum, Lex Thuringorum, and Ewa Chamavorum – extensively discuss legal protection of the grave and the dead body and sanction persons who disgrace them. This scope of issues is dwelt upon in details by Edictum Theodorici, Leges Visigothorum, Lex Burgundionum, Edictus Rothari, Lex Salica, Lex Ribuaria, the Pactus, Lex Alamannorum, and Lex Baiuvariorum.In the present paper, we analyse the state of facts that constitute grave robbery in Frankish laws. This investigation requires the analysis of the legal source base as well as some examination in the history of language, which allows a comparative analysis of the issue and helps to highlight the various layers of the norms of Frankish laws by the example of this state of facts.