The Gallows of Gotorras. Justice and Politics in a Provençal Village in the Late Middle Ages: Cucuron, 1412-1413

Abstract

This article focuses on an early fifteenth century trial involving a group of men from the Provençal village of Cucuron, accused of several acts of rebellion and of having torn down the gallows of a local nobleman. Rare documentation of this trial, rich with thirty-four testimonies, offers the opportunity to view how the community nimbly reacted to and organized against perceived injustices while knowledgeably implementing the legal tools available to protect its rights and privileges.

Keywords

• justice
• gallows
• rebellion
• complaints
• rights
• history of writing