An asega (legal interpreter or law-speaker) was, in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, an official legal advisor to the

court of law A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordan ...

in the Westerlauwers district (i.e. west of the

River Lauwers The Lauwers () is a river in the Netherlands. It forms part of the border between the provinces of Friesland and Groningen (province), Groningen. From the 730s to Widukind's defeat in 785, it was part of the border of the Frankish Empire. The ...

) in western

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

. Unlike a modern judge, the asega gave in most cases only an expert opinion on the law itself rather than on the facts of the case. As can be seen from the legal system known as ''Oudere Schoutenrecht'', in the Old Frisian legal system with its formal approach to evidence, there was little room for appreciation of the facts of the case. Nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, when there was a need for interpreting old sources of law in arriving at an appreciation of the case, the asega was asked for his opinion. The court could however refuse to accept his interpretation, simply arriving at its own verdict. During the Middle Ages, the asega's role became superfluous and his function was discontinued, in most areas towards the end of the 13th century.A. L. P. Buitelaar, ''De Stichtse ministerialiteit en de ontginningen in de Utrechtse Vechtstreek'', Middeleeuwse studies en bronnen, 37, Hilversum: Verloren, 1993,
p. 120
In Friesland, the

grietman A grietman (from Old Frisian ''greta'' to accuse, to summon) is partly a forerunner of the current rural mayor in the province of Friesland, and partly the forerunner of a judge. The area of jurisdiction was the municipality or gemeente. In the ...

assumed the duties of both

schout In Dutch-speaking areas, a ''schout'' was a local official appointed to carry out administrative, law enforcement and prosecutorial tasks. The office was abolished with the introduction of administrative reforms during the Napoleonic period. Fu ...

(or prosecutor responsible for law enforcement) and asega. In

Amstelland Amstelland is the area along the river Amstel in the Netherlands, beginning in South Holland and running north towards Amsterdam in southern North Holland. History Amstelland's history is inextricably linked with the Amstel river and the growth ...

asegas were used as part of the legal system until 1388. According to a Frisian legend recorded in the 14th century, twelve asegas were originally given the ''

Lex Frisionum ''Lex Frisionum'', the "Law Code of the Frisians", was recorded in Latin during the reign of Charlemagne, after the year 785, when the Frankish conquest of Frisia was completed by the final defeat of the Saxon rebel leader Widukind. The law code co ...

'', the written law of Friesland, by the god Fosite after

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first ...

had demanded they recite their law and they were unable to do so, having only custom. This is an indication of the close relationship of ancient Germanic law to religion.von Richthofen
p. 493

References

{{Reflist History of Friesland Society of the Netherlands Law of the Netherlands

See also

References