Folkreds

Folkreds were a system of laws and customs that governed many Germanic tribes in early medieval Europe. The term itself is derived from Old English, meaning "folk law" or "people's law." These legal traditions were not codified in a single, unified document but rather existed as a collection of oral traditions, customary practices, and later, written compilations that varied significantly from region to region and tribe to tribe.

The foundational principle of folkreds was that law was derived from the collective will and customs of the people, rather than from a divinely appointed ruler or abstract legal theory. Disputes were typically resolved through assemblies of freemen, where elders and respected individuals would recall and interpret the established customs. Justice often involved compensation for offenses, known as wergild, which was a monetary payment to the victim or their family, with the amount varying based on the social status of the individuals involved. Oaths and ordeals, such as trial by combat or by fire, were also common methods of determining guilt or innocence. Over time, as kingdoms solidified and literacy increased, many of these folkreds were written down, forming the basis of early Germanic law codes like the Salic Law of the Franks or the laws of the Anglo-Saxons. These written codes often blended traditional customs with elements of Roman law or royal decrees, marking a transition from purely customary law to more formalized legal systems.