Via Spiritus (Jan 2011)
Amor carnal e amor pecaminoso : cartas de perdão na Chancelarie de D. João II
Abstract
In this paper we are going to deal with charters of forgiveness of King John II’s chancery concerning sex crimes such as concubinage, panderism, incest, witchcraft, ruffianism, bigamy and adultery. These relationships are prone to be punished by royal legislation. The charters of forgiveness are part of the royal centralization process and of the acting of power throughout the ability of acting upon, governing and transforming a specific geographical area. It’s possible to infer that the chancery serves the power considering that writing is an essential element to prove and verify rights, properties, privileges and a great deal of juridical acts, such as the charters of forgiveness in which it is determined that only the king himself is able to grant benefits and forgiveness.
