Capitulary

A capitulary is a type of legal document or decree issued by a ruler, particularly in the early medieval period, often associated with the Frankish kings. These documents contained rules, regulations, and instructions regarding governance, law, and administration of their territories. They served to outline duties for officials, clarify legal matters, and sometimes addressed issues of church and state. The term originates from the Latin "caput," meaning "head," as capitularies were typically organized into chapters. Essentially, they were important tools for royal governance and the establishment of law during a time when written legislation was still developing.