5 Common Medieval Crimes and Their Punishments

The crime did not always fit the punishment

A tapestry entitled “The Baker’s Punishment” (Public domain)

Punishment in the Middle Ages was much harsher than it is now and that stems from a distinct lack of law enforcement ability. People across Medieval Europe lived in small hamlets, on feudal farms, or in larger towns and cities. Out in the countryside, there was no rapid response to crime and wrongdoing which is why they compensated with heavy punishments which were meant to deter any poor behavior. Despite the attempt by monarchs and local lords to keep the people in line via fear of the law, crime was still a big deal across the Medieval world and crime and punishment is a topic that still fascinates us from that era.

Here are five of the most common crimes that were seen in Medieval times and their requisite penal responses.

1. Disturbing the peace

Two men serve time in the pillory. (Public domain)

Without large numbers of officers patrolling the streets like we have today, some places could get quite rowdy. Whether it was drinking that went too far or feuds and arguments that got out of hand, it could be dangerous for local people and innocent bystanders if things quickly got out of control in the village.

Disturbing the peace was a broad crime that could be applied to brawling, revelry, violent arguing, and other seemingly minor offenses. Anything which disrupted the status quo in the countryside could be seen as disturbing the peace, and punishment was meted out proportional to the crime.

Simple revelry and drunkenness could result in a trip to the pillory, a device that locked you up in the center of town. A trip to the pillory could last an hour, half a day, or a full day depending on how severe the breach of the peace was.

The pillory bent a person over and locked their head and hands into place leaving them at the mercy of the town. Insults and jeering were common and sometimes perpetrators would also be pelted with rotten vegetables. It was a public show of humility and humiliation combined with strong lower back pain which paid people back for causing a ruckus.