中世纪英国封臣死后调查考察

The Inquisition Post Mortem and the Development of Incidents in Medieval England

诺曼征服后,随着封地的传承,国王可获得的骑士役和大侍君役日渐减少,亨利二世着手进行封臣死后调查,以获取更多的军役。然而,随着社会经济的发展与采邑的不断分割,调查目的逐渐转向增加财政收入,最终在13世纪初确立了由复归财产管理官和调查陪审团构成的封臣死后调查制度。封臣死后调查是继承封地以及封君实行监护权和婚姻指定权等封建附属权的重要前提。若继承人未成年且尚未婚配,则需进一步廓清封君权责。封臣死后调查推动了封建权利传承的法理化,调查陪审团作为媒介提供了平衡机制,稳定了封建制度的运行与存续。

After the Norman Conquest,with the inheritance of feudal lands,the king’s access to knight service and great sergeanty service gradually decreased.Henry II began to carry out the inquisition post mortem to obtain more military services.However,with the development of social economy and the continuous division of fiefs,the purpose of the inquisition gradually turned to increasing financial revenue,and at the beginning of the 13th century,finally established the system of the inquisition post mortem which was consisted of the escheators and the inquest juries.The inquisition was an important prerequisite for the heir to inherit the fief and for the feudal lord to exercise the right of guardianship and marriage appointment.If the heir was underage and unmarried,it was necessary to further clarify the rights and responsibilities of the feudal lord.The inquisition post mortem promoted the legalization of the inheritance of feudal rights.The inquest juries,as a medium,provided a balance mechanism which stabilized the operation and survival of the feudal system.