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Simple English definitions for legal terms
liberam legem amittere
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A quick definition of liberam legem amittere:
Term: Liberam Legem Amittere
Definition: Liberam Legem Amittere is a Latin term that means losing one's free law. This happens when a person commits a crime or becomes infamous. They lose their status of libera lex and are subjected to a "villenous judgment." This judgment includes being discredited as a juror and witness, forfeiting goods and chattels and lands for life, having their houses razed and trees uprooted, and going to prison. This punishment was given to conspirators and parties involved in a wager of battle who cried "craven." It is also known as amittere liberam legem or amittere legem terrae, which means losing the law of the land.
A more thorough explanation:
liberam legem amittere
When someone loses their free law, it is called "liberam legem amittere." This happens when someone commits a crime or does something shameful that makes them lose their status as a free person. In the past, this meant that the person would lose their property, their homes would be destroyed, and they would go to prison. This was a punishment for people who were involved in a conspiracy or who refused to fight in a battle.
One example of someone losing their free law is if they were involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Another example is if someone refused to fight in a battle and cried "craven." In both cases, the person would be punished by losing their property and going to prison.
These examples illustrate how serious the punishment was for losing your free law. It was a way to keep people in line and prevent them from doing things that would harm society.