SCAtoday.net - Legal History

Scottish Parliament Archive launched

Sun, 18 May 2008 17:27:37 -0400

An online archive of the proceedings of the original Scottish Parliament from its first surviving act of 1235 to its dissolution in 1707 has been launched.

12th century "Hoodies" terrorized medieval London

Thu, 1 May 2008 07:30:32 -0400

According to historian Professor Robert Bartlett, youth gangs are nothing new. They existed in 12th century London and wore hooded garments which hid their identities during rampages.

Mary Queen of Scots warrant will remain in England

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:46:37 -0400

A copy of the warrant calling for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots will remain in England thanks to donations and a law hoping to keep important documents in the country. The warrant had been scheduled to be sold to a private buyer and taken overseas.

Remains of Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger identified at Hulton Abbey

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:02:28 -0400

Archaeologists believe that they have identified mutilated remains found at Hulton Abbey as those of Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger, reputed to have been the lover of Edward II. The remains were first discovered in the 1970s.

700-year-old Magna Carta to be displayed at the National Archives

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 08:20:43 -0500

Starting March 12, 2008, a handwritten copy of the Magna Carta will go on display at the West Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building in Washington DC.

Domesday Book online

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:05:35 -0500

For the first time, those wishing to do research on medieval England online will have access to one of the best resources, William the Conqueror's Domesday Book.

"Magna Carta and the World of King John" at Penn State

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:30:51 -0500

The Magna Carta will be the focus of this year's Medieval Conference at Pennsylvania State University March 28-29, 2008. The conference will "examine various groups and institutions of that society, in attempt to fill in the background of the Great Charter: the world of King John, and additional sessions will deal with teaching about Magna Carta and its time period.

Saxon cemetery offers grisly findings

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:45:34 -0500

In-depth examination of a Saxon cemetery in East Yorkshire has given archaeologists some insight into the society's system of justice with the study of a dozen decapitated skeletons.

Magna Carta sale brings more than US$21.3 million

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:54:29 -0500

An early copy of the Magna Carta, sold recently at auction, has brought over US$21 million. The documents was purchased by David Rubinstein, a founder of the Carlyle Group.

Britain's top ten stupid laws

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:01:54 -0500

A recent survey taken in Great Britain determines the country's ten most obsolete - or downright stupid - laws. Included was the one that prohibits the eating of mince pies on Christmas Day, and several that date from the Middle Ages.

Vatican publishes documents from Knights Templar heresy trials

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:48:49 -0400

The Vatican is finally publishing Processus Contra Templarios, the report from the heresy trials of the Knights Templar that was lost in the Vatican secret archives for 700 years due to a filing error.

Magna Carta to be auctioned

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 19:18:40 -0400

A rare copy of the Magna Carta could bring as much as US$30 million when it is auctioned in New York by Sotheby's in December 2007. The 1297 copy is one of only 20 reissued by King Edward I.

Genghis Khan enforced ban on gay lifestyle

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:30:50 -0400

Chinese experts at the Research Institute of Ancient Mongolian Laws and Sociology in Inner Mongolia have determined that Genghis Khan's code of laws may have contained the earliest recorded ban on homosexuality.

Gay civil unions may have 600-year precedent

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 11:40:49 -0400

In an upcoming article for The Journal of Modern History Allan A. Tulchin cites the study of documents and grave sites as evidence for homosexual civil unions in 15th century France.

Papal dungeons to reopen

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:48:14 -0400

The Vatican has announced that the papal dungeons in the Castel Sant'Angelo will re-open after ten years of restoration. The dungeons were used to house criminals during the period of the Papal States.