Cnut's law code of 1018

Abstract

It is a matter of general recognition that Wulfstan, bishop of London from 996 until 1002 and archbishop of York from 1002 until his death in 1023, was responsible for the formulation of the series of law codes issued by Æthelred II, most likely between the years 1008 and 1014. For many years, however, the prevailing opinion among scholars was that the code of Cnut, which borrowed extensively from the 1008 code of Æthelred, was not produced until after Wulfstan died. This opinion was based on arguments set out by Liebermann in his article on relations between Wulfstan and Cnut, which he later reproduced in abbreviated form in theGesetze: Liebermann believed that Cnut's code must have followed his proclamation of 1027.4Such a dating would, of course, preclude the direct involvement of Wulfstan in its compilation.