Legal Definitions - Regiam Majestatem

Term: Regiam Majestatem
Definition: Regiam Majestatem is a collection of Scottish laws that is believed to be genuine, although its origins are widely disputed. It consists of four books and is named after its opening words. Some people used to think that it was compiled by David I or Edward I, but modern scholars reject these views. It was probably compiled by an unknown cleric shortly before 1320. The collection was partly copied from Glanville's treatise De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae, as appears from the works' similarities and the fact that the Glanville treatise opens with the words Regiam potestatem.
Example: Regiam Majestatem is an important historical document that sheds light on the legal system of medieval Scotland. It contains rules and regulations that governed various aspects of life, such as property rights, inheritance, marriage, and crime. For example, Book 2 of Regiam Majestatem deals with the law of succession and outlines the rules for the inheritance of land and titles. The collection also provides insights into the social and political context of Scotland in the Middle Ages, such as the power struggles between the Scottish kings and the nobility.