DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0382
366
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
also to be granted to him from the stronghold of Goslar,
as they had been to his father in the year 1204. Satis-
fied with these concessions, Otho renounced all the other
claims, under pretence of which his uncle had betrayed
Barbarossa.
Frederick then caused an inquiry to be made into the
reasons of the Germans for the discontent which had so
nearly cost him his Empire, and framed a constitution of
sixteen articles, re-confirming certain laws and usages
which the turbulence of parties had set aside, and many
new and wise laws were added to the old. The “ Wehrgeld,”
or price of blood, was abolished: this was a barbarous
and invidious fine, allowing the gratification of the law-
less violence of murder, according to a scale of penalties
proportioned to the rank of the victims.
The custom of judicial combat was also abolished, and
regular tribunals were formed for the judicial examination
of personal evidence. It was furthermore established that
“ Whosoever should take arms against his father, or make
alliances with his father’s enemies, or who conspired
against his life, or connived at his mutilation or loss of
personal liberty, should lose all right to his paternal or
maternal inheritance, and be given over to the mercy
of the sovereign.”
On the strength of this law the deposition of Henry,
King of the Romans, was formally pronounced. To cut
off the more completely all chance of his ever succeeding
him, Frederick confirmed the Electoral rights of the
princes of the Empire, against which the aim of the
Hohenstauffen had always been to oppose hereditary
right. This was done in' the hope of retaining in their
house the highest honour to be obtained then in the
existing world.
Meantime the affairs of Italy again demanded the
attention of the Emperor. We have seen how the Peace
of Paquara was followed by the most atrocious religious
persecution, and how, by the preaching of Giovanni da
Vicenza, the faggots were lighted in every city, to consume
the unoffending “ Paterini.” These at last rose in a
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
also to be granted to him from the stronghold of Goslar,
as they had been to his father in the year 1204. Satis-
fied with these concessions, Otho renounced all the other
claims, under pretence of which his uncle had betrayed
Barbarossa.
Frederick then caused an inquiry to be made into the
reasons of the Germans for the discontent which had so
nearly cost him his Empire, and framed a constitution of
sixteen articles, re-confirming certain laws and usages
which the turbulence of parties had set aside, and many
new and wise laws were added to the old. The “ Wehrgeld,”
or price of blood, was abolished: this was a barbarous
and invidious fine, allowing the gratification of the law-
less violence of murder, according to a scale of penalties
proportioned to the rank of the victims.
The custom of judicial combat was also abolished, and
regular tribunals were formed for the judicial examination
of personal evidence. It was furthermore established that
“ Whosoever should take arms against his father, or make
alliances with his father’s enemies, or who conspired
against his life, or connived at his mutilation or loss of
personal liberty, should lose all right to his paternal or
maternal inheritance, and be given over to the mercy
of the sovereign.”
On the strength of this law the deposition of Henry,
King of the Romans, was formally pronounced. To cut
off the more completely all chance of his ever succeeding
him, Frederick confirmed the Electoral rights of the
princes of the Empire, against which the aim of the
Hohenstauffen had always been to oppose hereditary
right. This was done in' the hope of retaining in their
house the highest honour to be obtained then in the
existing world.
Meantime the affairs of Italy again demanded the
attention of the Emperor. We have seen how the Peace
of Paquara was followed by the most atrocious religious
persecution, and how, by the preaching of Giovanni da
Vicenza, the faggots were lighted in every city, to consume
the unoffending “ Paterini.” These at last rose in a