Fehmic court

Fehmic court, medieval law tribunal properly belonging to Westphalia, though extending jurisdiction throughout the German kingdom. After 1180, when ducal rights in Westphalia passed to the archbishop of Cologne, Westphalian jurisdiction still retained Carolingian features: in every county, or Grafschaft, the count’s agent would hear minor cases; and thrice yearly the count himself would hold assizes, the tribunals being composed of free men. In the 13th century, Freigrafen, or permanent representatives of the counts, multiplied...