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Statute of Praemunire

England [1353]

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The Statute of Praemunire, enacted in England around 1353, was a law designed to curb the influence of the papacy in English legal matters. It made it an offense against the Crown to assert papal legal supremacy within England. This meant that any attempt to bring cases before papal courts or to enforce papal authority in England could result in severe penalties, including forfeiture of property. The term "praemunire" itself comes from a Latin writ meaning "to warn" and was used to initiate proceedings against those who violated this statute. This law was a significant assertion of royal power over ecclesiastical authority during the medieval period.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. praemunire
  2. Statutes of Westminster

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