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> From: Daron Burrows <[log in to unmask]> > To: medieval-religion <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Question: Castration as punishment? > Date sent: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 09:44:54 -0000 > Send reply to: [log in to unmask] > > I have a question which has arisen during the course of my research, in > answer to which I would appreciate any information, leads or opinions. > Is anybody aware of any legal documents which prescribe, or even historical > records which describe castration as a suitable punishment for sexual > crimes or indiscretions - especially on the part of the secular clergy? My > particular interest would be regarding anything which could have influenced > popular opinions in 12th/13th-century Northern France; I have numerous > literary descriptions of the fact, and am wondering whether there is > something more than just a sense of poetic justice which has inspired the > authors. > > With thanks in advance for your attention, > > DARON > > Daron Burrows, Trinity College, Oxford. > [log in to unmask] Dear Daron, I have a vague recollection that this subject is dealt with in J.A. Brundage, Law, Sex, and Christian Society in Medieval Europe. Chicago 1987. However, I can not remember what and where exactly in that book nor have I it now in my shelf. Jussi Hanska University of Tampere Finland P.S. Somehow I can not see anything poetic in castration, nor for that matter justice. > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%