Eigigilda

Eigigilda is a term that appears in historical legal texts, particularly those related to the early medieval Germanic laws. It is generally understood to refer to a type of compensation or a fine. The exact meaning and application of eigigilda can vary depending on the specific legal code and historical context. It is often associated with offenses that were not considered serious enough to warrant a full wergild, which was the monetary value placed on a person's life. Instead, eigigilda likely represented a lesser payment for specific transgressions or damages.

The etymology of the word suggests a connection to concepts of value and offense. Understanding eigigilda requires examining the broader framework of Germanic legal systems, which emphasized a system of fines and compensations to maintain social order and prevent blood feuds. These systems aimed to resolve disputes through financial settlements rather than violent retribution. While direct translations are challenging, eigigilda plays a role in understanding the graduated system of penalties that characterized these early legal traditions. Its precise nature remains a subject of scholarly discussion and interpretation.