Breakin' the Law

Calling All Cars

No police yet, but officials with police powers; for example, the gonfaloniere in Florence (and elsewhere in Italy).

In Venice, it was the Signori di Notte and the Capi Sestieri. In England it was the sheriffs—the reeves of the shires. In many villages it was simply the community, or sometimes an appointed committee of twelve or ten or twenty that formed a posse. The word "posse" comes from "to be able" or, more correctly, to have power.

I'll give a quick example of these police entities: the Lords of the Night.

Signori di Notte in Venice

The night patrols consisted of twelve men in each contrada (district). Nobles were put in charge (elected), with popolani (commoner) assistants. Patrolled also in boats. The noble officers were issued a particular type of sword that was forbidden to anyone else. We even have a case of a noble impersonating an officer. The non-noble retainers could not be from the noble's clientage, a regulation intended to help prevent corruption.

Jurisdiction

When a member made an arrest, he was required to justify it to his colleagues within one week. If they did not agree, the accused was released.

The Signori di Notte also investigated homicides, on request of relatives. CSI: Venice!

The accused had the right to select his own attorney. If he could or would not, the court appointed a defender.

Homicides required witnesses.

Thieves were routinely tortured, but the six Signori had to authorize it, two had to attend, along with two judges and two ducal councillors.

Of twenty-five homicides in the 1360s, only twelve resulted in executions. There were fifty sentences for theft, of which 17 were hung and 33 maimed. Of the seventeen, fourteen were foreign.

We do have cases of nobles refusing to cooperate. They would threaten officials and even attack them. They would bribe or threaten court clerks to alter official transcripts.