TERM 1
wergeld
DEFINITION 1
Germanic tribal leaders attempting to reduce hostilities by
establishing payments known as wergeld, in place of blood
vengeance demanded in reparation of crimes. Such wergeld,
were normally paid in cattle or slaves, was voluntary, since
the right of vengeance was generally recognized, and the
unity of the tribe remained precarious.
TERM 2
comitatus
DEFINITION 2
Comitatus was a Germanic friendship structure that
compelled kings to rule in consultation with their warriors.
young warriors formed personal bonds with able leaders and
pledged them absolute loyalty.
TERM 3
Council of Chalcedon
DEFINITION 3
The Council of Chalcedon is considered by the Roman
Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, the Old Catholics, and
various other Western Christian groups to have been the
Fourth Ecumenical Council .
TERM 4
Donatists
DEFINITION 4
The Donatists (named for the Berber Christian Donatus
Magnus) were followers of a belief considered a schism by
the broader churches of the Catholic tradition, and most
particularly within the context of the religious milieu of the
provinces of Roman North Africa in Late Antiquity.
TERM 5
Visigoths
DEFINITION 5
The Visigoths () were one of two main branches of the Goths,
an East Germanic tribe; the Ostrogoths being the other.
