Statute of Bigamy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Act of Parliament |
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| Long title | Statutum de Bigamis. |
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| Citation | 4 Edw. 1 |
The Statute of Bigamy was an important English law from 1276. A "statute" is a written law passed by a government. This law is also known by its Latin name, Statutum de Bigamis, and by its official reference, 4 Edw. 1. This reference means it was passed in the fourth year of the reign of King Edward I.
This law covered several different topics in its six parts. However, it became famous for its fifth part. This section dealt with a specific issue called bigamy.
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What Was Bigamy?
Bigamy happens when someone marries a new person while they are still legally married to someone else. In the 1200s, the Church played a big role in people's lives and in the law. Church courts, called ecclesiastical courts, would decide if someone had committed bigamy.
The law stated that if a man was found guilty of bigamy by a church court, he would lose a special privilege. This privilege was called "benefit of clergy."
What Was "Benefit of Clergy"?
In medieval times, people who were part of the clergy (like priests or monks) had a special right. If they were accused of a crime, they could ask to be tried in a church court instead of a regular court. Church courts were often less strict than the king's courts. This "benefit of clergy" meant they might get a lighter punishment.
The Statute of Bigamy changed this. It said that men who committed bigamy would lose this special right. This meant they would be judged by the king's regular courts, just like anyone else. This showed that bigamy was seen as a very serious offense.
Why Was This Law Made?
The Statute of Bigamy was influenced by a big meeting of church leaders. This meeting was called the Council of Lyon and happened in 1274. At this council, it was decided that clergy who committed bigamy should lose their special church protections. They would then face the same laws as everyone else.
King Edward I's new law in England put this decision into action. It made bigamy a very serious crime in England.
How Did the Law Change Over Time?
When this law first came out, some church leaders wanted bigamy cases to be handled by common law. They hoped this would lead to less severe punishments for those involved. However, Pope Gregory X, the head of the Church at the time, disagreed. He wanted bigamy to be treated seriously.
Centuries later, during the time of King Henry VIII in the 1500s, the rules changed again. The king passed new laws that removed some of the old church rules about bigamy for clergy members. This shows how laws can change over time as societies and governments evolve.
