IMC 2016: Sessions

Session 801: Oaths and Swearing in Situations of Conflict

Organiser:	Silke Schwandt, Fakultät für Geschichtswissenschaft, Philosophie und Theologie, Universität Bielefeld
Moderator/Chair:	Joshua Hey, St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews
Paper 801-a	Swearing Burghers: Unification in Medieval Towns by Oath (Language: English) Gerhild Landwehr, Fakultät für Geschichtswissenschaft, Philosophie und Theologie, Universität Bielefeld Index terms: Local History, Social History
Paper 801-b	Believing in Law and Justice: Legal Oaths as a Guarantee for Social Stability in Medieval England (Language: English) Silke Schwandt, Fakultät für Geschichtswissenschaft, Philosophie und Theologie, Universität Bielefeld Index terms: Law, Social History
Abstract	Oaths play a vital role in the social life of medieval times. As social practices they can be found in many areas of society. Our focus lies on the way oaths and swearing were used to build consensus and to secure social peace. We will take our examples for one thing from the fields of medieval English law, where oaths secure the social order through manifesting belief and trust. A second focus lies on swearing rituals and political oaths that take place to prevent and end quarrels and riots within urban societies, where they secure social peace and unity.