Test #1: Part D Short Essay Question

The following short essay question will appear on the test on Anglo-
Saxon Law:

"Did the use of the weregeld provide justice or create greater inequality in Anglo-Saxon
society?" Provide and explain 2 examples to support your view.

The question is graded out of 10 marks, and evaluates the quality of your answer, your ability to
support your position with strong examples, and your spelling and grammar. Above all, your
grade will depend on whether your answer is "correct" or "robust".

Inequality  lead to a system where the wealthy can afford to escape more severe
consequences for their actions.

Social Harmony:

By providing a legal and acceptable way to resolve conflicts, wergeld contributed to social
harmony.
It reduced the likelihood of prolonged disputes and maintained a level of order within the
community.
Prevention of Blood Feuds:

Wergeld helped prevent blood feuds, which could lead to cycles of violence and disruption
within a community.
The monetary compensation offered an alternative to the more destructive and chaotic paths of
revenge and retribution.

o return item is taken, plus its value in addition as a fine, to the “Injured party”
o plus pay 30 Shillings ($6000) in compensation to the King (insult to him for not
following due process)
o ”breaking the King’s Peace” provides a way to show the king’s authority and avoid
“blood feuds”

Despite the commonness of the wealthy to evade consequences, it provided a chance for the
less fortunate to receive physical compensation, contributing to social equality and restraining
the potential exploitation of the weak by the powerful.
The greatest Roman philosophers and jurists installed the legal concept that punishment should

be imposed for the betterment of the state. This notion permeates to deliver justice for all in

Anglo-Saxon England through the institution of the weregeld. The wergild in Anglo-Saxon

society not only provided a structured framework for social equality and compensation amid

hierarchical imperfections but also fostered community involvement and accountability,

ultimately contributing to a more just and harmonious society. Firstly, Assigning a monetary

value to crimes, the weregeld system ensured justice accessibility for all members of society,

regardless of social status. As seen in code 52 of VI Aethelred, “And always the greater a

man's position or... the higher... his rank, the more fully shall he make amends for his

sins, and the more dearly shall he pay for all his misdeeds.; for the strong and weak are not alike

nor can they bear a like burden. . . . And therefore, in forming a judgment, careful discrimination

must be made between age and youth, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, and the

various ranks of life”. This highlights the nuanced approach to justice, acknowledging societal

disparities and emphasizing fair compensation based on individual circumstances, thereby

reinforcing the wergild system's role in maintaining a semblance of social equality. Secondly, in

facilitating a system where communities actively participated in assessing and compensating for

crimes through the wergild, the Anglo-Saxon society not only embraced a collective sense of

responsibility but also nurtured accountability. This is reflected in various laws and codes, INe of

Wessex , particularly that of code 21. This practice ensured that the community had a stake in

maintaining order and, consequently, encouraged active participation in preventing and

addressing disputes, especially blood feuds.