Urban justice in early modern Transylvanian Saxon towns: practices and procedures in Brașov
Urban justice in early modern Transylvanian Saxon towns: practices and procedures in Brașov

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyzes data from a judicial record relating to the administration of justice in Brașov (Kronstadt) one of the most important towns of the Transylvanian Saxons in the second half of the sixteenth century. The records contain judgements delivered by the Town Council in disputes involving the town’s inhabitants and the rural population of the surrounding district. Based on the entries, it can be traced what kinds of complaints people brought to court, what kind of proceedings they expected for their disputes, and what they hoped to achieve through litigation. It reveals how people of this period made use of the law. Examining the cases reveals that the town court remained attractive to the local community due to its role as a place of authentication. Individuals could request written evidence of the judgements delivered in their cases, which they could then use to prove the legitimacy of their transactions before other courts. Even though the procedure was gradually being standardised and signs of professionalisation were appearing among court members, a major part of the community still used older methods of resolving disputes. People primarily expected the court to act as a mediator in their disputes.

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