Legal Definitions - folk laws

Definition: Folk laws, also known as leges barbarorum, refer to the customary laws of medieval European law, particularly the customary laws of Germanic tribes during the Middle Ages. Examples of these laws include the lex romana Visigothorum, the lex Burgundionum, and the lex Salica.

Examples: One of the most famous examples of folk laws is the Lex Salica, which was a Frankish code that probably dates back to the second half of the fifth century. This code was created to state the tribal customs of the Frankish people in writing. Other examples of folk laws include the lex romana Visigothorum and the lex Burgundionum.

Explanation: Folk laws were created by various Germanic tribes during the Middle Ages to document their customary laws. These laws were often published shortly after the fall of the Western Empire and were used to govern the people within these tribes. The examples provided illustrate how these laws were used to document the customs and traditions of different tribes, such as the Frankish people.