Bandits and Marauders

Thesis statement

In the historical cycle of every civilization, different periods of state of law and order, stability of a central controlling authority come. The interim periods are characterized by some dark spots. European history defining the Middle Ages (sometimes referred as The Dark Ages) has such examples of turmoil’s, wars and tribes fighting amongst themselves for supremacy over others and to establish their rule. Such situation provided a fertile ground for the Bandits and Marauders to form their large bands and cause large scale disturbance to the life of peaceful people.

The aim of this thesis is to go into the background study and “Exploring the Reasons for the Inevitability of Bandits and Marauders during High Middle Ages”.

Introduction

Banditry

Throughout the high middle ages especially in the tenth to thirteenth century, prosperous travellers and traders as well as general public and farmers faced the fear of banditry. The general population and the rulers and governments knew how to deal with pilfering beggars and stealers fire wood. However they were afraid of gangs of bandits, vagabonds and gypsies in groups of unpredictable size were both dangerous. They refused to obey the state monopoly of carrying arms and they also disobeyed God.

Geographically they were operating in vast areas of Europe. The major areas where they preyed were the Dalmatian highlands located around regions between Venice and Turkey. The open areas spread over vast frontier areas of Hungary, the Pyrenees, Catalonia, the areas near French border, and low mountain areas in the Roman Empire like Spessart etc.

Spanish bandits were no less and very boldly operated throughout the country, especially in Murcia, Valencia, Catalonia, ban...

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