Club-Law

(German, Faustrecht), the resolution of disputes by force of arms, typical of a period of feudal disintegration.

Club-law was especially widespread in Germany from the llth through 13th centuries. With the aid of club-law, the stronger feudal lords imposed their will on the weaker ones, often seizing their lands, property, and peasants. Club-law was also used to enforce judicial decisions. The use of club-law declined sharply in Western Europe as courts grew stronger.

In the broadest sense club-law, the law of might, was typical of the feudal legal order.