The Influence of the Zakón Súdnyi Liúdem on the Vinodol Law and the Medieval Croatian Legal System

This book reveals new information on the oldest known Slavic legal text, Zakón Súdnyi Liúdem, that has been shrouded in mystery for centuries. Most likely composed in today’s Bulgaria, Zakón Súdnyi Liúdem reached parts of Croatian territory and, according to some ancient sources, had a significant influence on all medieval social classes that followed its written codes of conduct and incorporated them in their own legal documents, as proved by the Vinodol Law. The Vinodol Law, recognised globally as one of the oldest medieval legal monuments, contains plenty of regulations based on the ancient Croatian customs that were directly linked with the old Slavic rules and traditions. The Law’s legacy is explored in the context of Croatian medieval society and its legal system. The book asks some crucial questions on who was the original compiler of the Law, whether it was an official legal document or a private legal writing, why some crimes, like murder, were never mentioned in the articles, and who lived by the Law.