Vehmic Court Oath Skull. Circa 16th-17th century. Courtesy MS Rau Antiques

5 1/4" wide x 6 3/4" deep x 5 1/4" high. Price: $19,850

Utilized during the tumultuous post-Middle Age Europe, this oath skull was used in the legendary Vehmic courts of present-day Germany to "swear in" the accused who were brought before the court to answer for their crimes. The skull symbolized life and death and the accused were required to take a sacred oath of truth of their testimony with his or her hand placed atop the skull.

Known as the Vehmgerichte, or criminal tribunals, this system of courts arose from the need to curb the rampant crime and warfare that sprung from feudalism, which often resulted in those with power taking advantage of innocent citizens. When the Holy Roman emperors were unable to control these often heinous offenses, they were brought to the Vehmic courts. These courts handled capital crimes, with the only possible verdicts being either acquittal or death. Accusations were made by a summons to the accused that was either nailed to his door, or to some convenient place where he was certain to pass. Six weeks and three days' grace were allowed, according to the old Saxon law, during which the summons was repeated a maximum of three times. If the accused appeared as directed, the accuser stated the case, and the investigation proceeded by the examination of witnesses as in an ordinary court of law.

Failure to appear for trial resulted in an automatic guilty verdict. If the court officials could not find the fugitive, the punishment of death could be exacted by any freeman who confronted them. The order brought by the system earned it the sanction of the Holy Roman emperors and it spread across Germany. The courts rose to their height of power in the 15th century and became increasingly secret with members sworn to complete secrecy under penalty of death. Changing political forces and pressure brought on by corruption diminished the court's power, eventually resulting in the last Vehmic trial being held in Dortmund, Germany on January 6, 1806.

This fascinating skull is protected by its 19th century wood and glass display case. It is engraved with a cross and the letters "INRI," theacronymof theLatininscriptionIESVS   · NAZARENVS   · REX   · IVDÆORVM(Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), or "Jesusthe Nazarene(Galilean),King of the Jews(Judeans)."

MS Rau Antiques. 630 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130. Phone: 877-315-8652 - E-Mail: info@rauantiques.com

Note: The Vehmic courts, Vehmgericht, holy vehme, or just the Vehm, also spelt Feme, are names given to a "proto-vigilante" tribunal system of Westphalia active during the later Middle Ages, based on a fraternal organisation of lay judges called “free judges” (German: Freischöffen or French: francs-juges). The principal seat of the courts was in Dortmund. The proceedings were sometimes secret, leading to the alternative titles of “secret courts” (German: heimliches Gericht), “silent courts” (German: Stillgericht), or “forbidden courts” (German: verbotene Gerichte). The courts took jurisdiction over all crimes during the Late Middle Ages, and those condemned by the tribunal were done away with by secret means. After the execution of the death sentence, the corpse was hung on a tree to advertise the fact and deter others.

The peak of activity of these courts was during the 14th to 15th centuries, with lesser activity attested for the 13th and 16th centuries, and scattered evidence establishing their continued existence during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were finally abolished by order of Jérôme Bonaparte, king of Westphalia, in 1811.

The Vehmic courts were the regional courts of Westphalia which, in turn, were based on the county courts of Franconia. They received their jurisdiction from the emperor, from whom they also received the capacity to pronounce capital punishment (German: Blutgericht) which they exercised in his name. Everywhere else the power of life and death, originally reserved to the emperor alone, had been usurped by the territorial nobles; only in Westphalia, called “the Red Earth” because here the imperial Blutbann was still valid, were capital sentences passed and executed by the Fehmic courts in the emperor's name alone. (Wikipedia)