Liberty, Slavery and the Law in Early Modern Western Europe

Omnes Homines aut Liberi Sunt aut Servi

Filip Batselé (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

XIV, 223 Seiten

2021 | 1st ed. 2020
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-030-36857-9 (ISBN)

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This book investigates the legal evolution of the "free soil principle" in England, France and the Low Countries during the Early Modern period (ca. 1500-1800), which essentially stated that, as soon as slaves entered a certain country, they would immediately gain their freedom. This book synthesizes the existing literature on the origins and evolution of the principle, adds new insights by drawing on previously undiscussed primary sources on the development of free soil in the Low Countries and employs a pan-Western, European and comparative approach to identify and explain the differences and similarities in the application of this principle in France, England and the Low Countries. Divided into four sections, the book begins with a brief introduction to the subject matter, putting it in its historical context. Slavery is legally defined, using the established international law definition, and both the status of slavery in Europe before the Early Modern Period and the Atlantic slave trade are discussed. Secondly, the book assesses the legal origins of the free soil principle in England, France and the Low Countries during the period 1500-1650 and discusses the legal repercussions of slaves coming to England, France and the Low Countries from other countries, where the institution was legally recognized. Thirdly, it addresses the further development of the free soil principle during the period 1650-1800. In the fourth and last section, the book uses the insights gained to provide a pan-Western, European and comparative perspective on the origins and application of the free soil principle in Western Europe. In this regard, it compares the origins of free soil for the respective countries discussed, as well as its application during the heyday of the Atlantic slave trade. This perspective makes it possible to explain some of the divergences in approaches between the countries examined and represents the first-ever full-scale country comparison on this subject in a book.

lt;b>Filip Batselé is a law graduate with degrees from Ghent University (LL.B., LL.M.) and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (LL.M.). He currently works at Ghent University's Institute for Legal History, where he is conducting PhD research on the history of international law. He is also affiliated with the research group "Contextual Research in Law" (CORE) at the Free University of Brussels.

Introduction.- The Legal and Institutional Framework of Slavery.- The Development of a Legal Free Soil Principle (?), Ca. 1500-1650.- Free Soil under Pressure - The Metropolitan Legal Order and the Atlantic Slave Trade, Ca. 1650-1800.- Comparative Free Soil - Similarities and Differences.- .General Conclusion - The Soil of Europe: Free or Unfree?

Erscheinungsdatum	06.02.2021
Reihe/Serie	Studies in the History of Law and Justice
Zusatzinfo	XIV, 223 p.
Verlagsort	Cham
Sprache	englisch
Maße	155 x 235 mm
Gewicht	373 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
	Recht / Steuern ► Allgemeines / Lexika
	Recht / Steuern ► Rechtsgeschichte
Schlagworte	colonial slavery • Freedom Principle • Free Soil Principle • Slavery 18th Century • Slavery and Freedom • Slavery and Law • Slavery in England • Slavery in France • Slavery in the Netherlands • Somerset's Case • Somerset’s Case
ISBN-10	3-030-36857-2 / 3030368572
ISBN-13	978-3-030-36857-9 / 9783030368579
Zustand	Neuware