Deviation of the behavior paradigm in the Anglo-Saxon society

Abstract

The article analyzes the deviant violations of the accepted behavior paradigm in the Anglo-Saxon society, reflected in Old English charters. The article deals with only one form of deviant violation of the paradigm of behavior – crime. The old English lawsuits charters were chosen as the object of analysis. The author proves that the reaction of society to the offense was placed in a wide range of forcing: from confiscation to expulsion and outlawing. In charters of the 10th century (Fonthill letter, charter S 1455; the expulsion of Æðelsig for stealing a pig, charter S 886; the confiscation of Æðelflӕda estate for the help for her exiled brother Leofsin, charter S 926) uses verbs flyman, afliman, exulare with the semantics ‘to expel, to force, to flee’. In the charters of the 11th century (the lawsuit of the widow in Ailsworth and her son, charter S 1377), the word utlah, from which the modern outlaw derives, is used instead of these verbs. Thus, the author shows that the control over the maintenance of the paradigm of behavior in the equilibrium state was two-level. The first level of impact was the confiscation of property in the case of a single crime not involving with attempt on the life of another person. The second level of influence was the outlawing of a person for the re-theft or the murder of one or more people. The king and Bishop had the right to apply last measure. However, some serious crimes related to the murders and robbery (crimes of Wulfbald and his widow, charter S 877) were not connected with the expulsion. The reasons for this are unknown due to the fragmentary preservation of the sources. In particular, it is not known how the story of Wulfbald’s widow ended.