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All Collections > The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition. > Volume II. > body > book xxviii.: of the origin and revolutions of the civil laws among the french. > chap. XXI.: a new reflection upon the point of honour among the germans.
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The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition.
cover
Volume II.
Body
BOOK XXVIII.: OF THE ORIGIN AND REVOLUTIONS OF THE CIVIL LAWS AMONG THE FRENCH.
CHAP. XXI.: A new Reflection upon the Point of Honour among the Germans.

CHAP. XXI.: A new Reflection upon the Point of Honour among the Germans.

“IT was a great infamy,” says Tacitus†654, “among the Germans for a person to leave his buckler behind him in battle; for which reason many after a misfortune of this kind have destroyed themselves.” Thus the ancient Salic law†655 allows a composition of fifteen sous to any person that had been injuriously reproached with having left his buckler behind him.

When Charlemaign†656 amended the Salic law, he allowed in this case no more than three sous in composition. As this prince cannot be suspected of having had a design to enervate the military discipline; it is manifest that such a change was owing to that of arms, and that from this change of arms a great number of usages derive their origin.