wite

German law

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July 15, 2026

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In ancient Germanic law, wite was a fine paid to the king by a criminal as atonement for their deed. This is distinct from wergild, which was compensation paid to the injured party or their family. If a crime was intentional, both wite and wergild were required; otherwise, only wergild was sufficient. The term wite itself, meaning "blame," has Old English origins and is related to the concept of knowing. Over time, particularly in the 10th and 11th centuries, fines became more subject to agreement or judicial decision, and certain crimes began to be punished by authorities rather than through compensation.12

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wergild
Another, wite, was a fine paid to the king by a criminal as an atonement for his deed. If a crime was intentional, both wite and wergild had to be paid; otherwise, simple wergild was sufficient.
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Another, wite, was a fine paid to the king by a criminal as an atonement for his deed. If a crime was intentional, both wite and wergild had to be paid; otherwise, simple wergild was sufficient.
Read More