Ostsiedlung or Transition of German Law? Legal Perspective on Settlement According to German Law in Medieval Poland

Ostsiedlung or Transition of German Law? Legal Perspective on Settlement According to German Law in Medieval Poland

By Pawel Dziwinski

Given at Twenty-First Annual Forum of Young Legal Historians – 6th Berg Institute International Conference on March 1, 2015

Topics Covered:

Genesis of Settlement According to German Law

• Beginning of Ius Theutonicum in medieval Europe
• The Locatio process
• Dilemma of the Ostseildung or settlement according to German Law

Major Innovations of Ius Theutonicum

• Public law ie. municipal self-government, court with lay justice
• Private law ie. land tenure

Consequences of the Transition