Magdeburg Rights (German: Magdeburger Recht) or Magdeburg Law, based on Flemish law, from which it has been adapted, were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was possibly the most important set of mediæval city laws. Sometimes, it was also called by differing names, and adopted by numerous monarchs in Central Europe including Bohemia, Hungary and Poland. The law was a milestone in urbanization of the region and prompted the development of thousands of villages and cities.
Read more about Magdeburg Rights: Implementation of Magdeburg Rights in Poland, Spread of The Law, Contents
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“... the structure of our public morality crashed to earth. Above its grave a tombstone read, “Be tolerant—even of evil.” Logically the next step would be to say to our commonwealth’s criminals, “I disagree that it’s all right to rob and murder, but naturally I respect your opinion.” Tolerance is only complacence when it makes no distinction between right and wrong.”
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