Legal Definitions - gruarii

GRUARII

Gruarii (pronounced groo-air-ee-I) were the main officers in charge of a forest during medieval times. A forest was a piece of land, not necessarily covered in trees, that was reserved for the king or a noble to hunt deer and other game.

During the Middle Ages, gruarii were responsible for managing the forest and ensuring that the game was plentiful for the king's hunting parties. They also had the authority to punish anyone who hunted in the forest without permission.

For example, if a peasant was caught hunting in the forest without permission, the gruarii could fine them or even have them imprisoned. This was because the forest was reserved for the king's pleasure and no one else was allowed to hunt there without his permission.

Another example of the gruarii's duties was to maintain the forest and prevent illegal logging or poaching. They would patrol the forest and make sure that no one was cutting down trees or hunting game illegally.

These examples illustrate how important the gruarii were in managing and protecting the forest during medieval times. They were responsible for ensuring that the king had plenty of game to hunt and that the forest was well-maintained and protected from illegal activities.