Memorial sign "Magdeburg Law"
The memorial sign "Magdeburg Law" indicates that the medieval Brest was the first city on the territory of modern Belarus that received the Magdeburg Law. This event took place in 1390.
Belarusian statehood developed in line with the European history. One manifestation of this process was receiving the Magdeburg Law by cities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The Magdeburg Law is the right to self-government of a city. It was granted to cities on behalf of the Grand Duke. The special privilege described the procedure of formation of governing bodies, rights and privileges. The German laws ("Weichbild of Magdeburg", "Saxon Mirror") and the Belarusian city law and articles of the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were the sources of the Magdeburg Law.
In accordance with the Magdeburg Law, self-governing bodies that were independent of the voivodes and headmen, were created in the cities. City governing was headed by a voit, appointed by the Grand Duke. There was also a city council, that consisted of citizens-counselors. The activity of the Council in the financial sector was controlled by an elected body of 12 local Commonwealth men, or jurymen. There was a local judicial body in criminal matters – the lava, which included laǔniks, chaired by a voit. Everyday issues were solved by burgomasters, and after the termination of the authority reported to the Council, and later at a general meeting of the citizens. A burgomaster court, which included the burgomasters with counselors, resolved civil cases. The city Council and the lava together constituted the magistracy, which sat in the Town Hall (in German this word means "the house of the council").
Brest received the right to self-government in 1390. Later the city reserved the right to uphold the Magdeburg Law many times.
After the accession of Belarus to the Russian Empire by decree of Catherine II the Magdeburg Law was abolished on this territory.
Publication date: 10.07.2019.
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