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The Brehon Law
by
Michael Ragan
© 1999


Part 1; Origins

Part 2; Law texts

Part 3; Clan and
social classes

Part 4; Women's Rights

Part 5; Professionals

Part 6; Land ownership
and use

Part 7; Property

Part 8; Legal tender

Part 9; Contracts

Part 10; Distraints
and fasting

Part 11; Summation
and appendix

Part 12; Glossary

divider Coinage did not come into general use until the 11th century CE. Prior to that time, the most common medium of exchange was cattle. With no fixed currency, the practiced system of exchange was very complex, especially in those texts dating from the 11th century onward. The following list of terms are those that applied during that period. It should be noted that there is considerable disagreement between texts in terms of value. What I present seems to be the generally accepted average. An easy reference table is included in the appendix.

Cumal
The literal meaning of the term cumal is female slave. And although slavery was practiced in Ireland as in the rest of Europe, in terms of the law it merely established a certain value. A cumal was valued at 3 sets, 6 milk cows, or 6 ounces of silver.
Sét
A unit of value for honor-price. Honor price (log-enech) varied according to social standing. The honor price of a Clan ruler was 42 sets (21 cows), down to a female calf for a fer midboth (a youth living on his father's land). The value of a sét was 1/3rd the value of a cumal, 1/2 a milk cow or 2 ounces of silver.
Cattle
Cattle were the primary medium of exchange. The basic unit was the milk cow accompanied by her calf. A three year-old dry heifer is half the value of the milk cow, a two year-old heifer is one third, the yearling heifer one fourth and a yearling bullock was valued at one-eighth.
 
Éiric
A fixed fine, ransom or retribution due for injury to an individual. The amount was determined by the rank of both the offended and the offender and the seriousness of the transgression.
Dire
The penalty paid for injury to an individual. The dire was calculated on the basis of the individual's honor price; either all of it, a fraction of it or a multiple of it, depending on the seriousness of the crime. Some later texts seem to confuse dire with the basic honor price itself. The terms éiric and dire are nearly synonymous, but not quite. The primary difference seems to be that the éiric was the penalty due and dire was the penalty paid.

 
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