noun
- A medieval system of mutual responsibility in which groups of ten men were held collectively accountable for the conduct of each member.
Usage: archaic; historical; primarily British history
Examples
- The frankpledge system was used in England to maintain order in local communities.
- Under frankpledge, if one member of the group committed a crime, the other nine could face penalties.
- Medieval lords relied on frankpledge as a form of collective law enforcement.
- The frankpledge system eventually declined as more formal policing methods developed.
- Historians study frankpledge to understand how medieval societies organized social control.