Salic law
Salic law a law excluding females from dynastic succession, especially as the alleged fundamental law of the French monarchy. Such a law was used in the 14th century by the French to deny Edward III's claim to the French throne (based on descent from his Capetian mother Isabella), so initiating the Hundred Years War.
The ancient text which under the name of the Salic law was adduced in favour of the succession of Philip V in 1316, and afterwards used to combat the claims of Edward III of England (and his successors) to the French crown, was really a quotation from the Lex Salica, a Frankish law-book, written in Latin, and extant in five successively enlarged recensions of Merovingian and Carolingian date. The words however have no reference to succession to the crown, but merely state that a woman can have no portion of the inheritance of ‘Salic land’ (terra Salica); the precise meaning of this term is disputed, and in the earliest form of the code the word ‘Salic’ is omitted.
The ancient text which under the name of the Salic law was adduced in favour of the succession of Philip V in 1316, and afterwards used to combat the claims of Edward III of England (and his successors) to the French crown, was really a quotation from the Lex Salica, a Frankish law-book, written in Latin, and extant in five successively enlarged recensions of Merovingian and Carolingian date. The words however have no reference to succession to the crown, but merely state that a woman can have no portion of the inheritance of ‘Salic land’ (terra Salica); the precise meaning of this term is disputed, and in the earliest form of the code the word ‘Salic’ is omitted.
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