Legal Definitions - Carta de Foresta

Definition: Carta de Foresta is a historical charter that defined the extent of the Crown's rights and privileges in the royal forests. It also granted some rights to the common people to use the forests and reduced the penalties for crimes such as poaching. The charter was first introduced in 1217 and revised in 1225.

Example: During the medieval period, the forests were considered the property of the Crown, and the common people were not allowed to use them for hunting or gathering wood. However, with the introduction of Carta de Foresta, the common people were granted some rights to use the forests for their livelihoods.

Explanation: The example illustrates how Carta de Foresta granted some rights to the common people to use the forests, which was previously not allowed. This charter helped to reduce the penalties for crimes such as poaching and ensured that the forests were not solely the property of the Crown.