Ius Illuminatum

Ius Illuminatum is an international scientific team composed of medieval art historians belonging to different European academic institutions, all specializing in illuminated legal manuscripts. My focus is on analysis of texts and iconography related to the ethics of judges.

The professional ethics of judges can be traced to texts from the middle ages, and that is the present research interest of Martin Sunnqvist. According to medieval texts, judges had to be impartial and independent in their minds. This was expressed through a requirement that they should not give wrongful judgments, neither for love nor hate, neither for entreaty nor reward, neither for fear nor favour. Such phrases occur in judges’ oaths but also in other types of texts relating to the behaviour of judges. Such requirements for the professional ethics of judges occurs also in iconography, established during the middle ages. The symbol of Justitia, with the sword and scales and sometimes the blindfold, reminded judges of their duties.