CAPITULARY

CAPITULARY

Capitulary (ordinance)was usually divided into articles promulgated by the  Carolingian sovereigns (Charlemagne and his heirs) in western Europe (8th to late 9th century). These ordinances dealt with various issues of administration, the royal domains, and public order and justice, as well as with ecclesiastical problems. Similar acts had been promulgated earlier by the Merovingians.

In Carolingian times capitularies that dealt with ecclesiastical matters were separated from those dealing with secular affairs. The latter fell into three main categories. The first were intended to supplement or modify the national laws of the Carolingian peoples.