SACHSENSPIEGEL

English Saxon Mirror most important of the medieval compilations of Saxon customary law. It was collected in the early 13th century by Eike von Repkow, a knight, and written in the vernacular. It showed little Roman influence, largely because Roman law had not penetrated German law and was still virtually unknown. The Sachsenspiegel was divided into two sections. The first, Landrecht, or territorial law, corresponded to what is now called constitutional law; it also included criminal and civil law and procedure. The second part, Lehnrecht, was made up of feudal regulations. The Sachsenspiegel was used by many towns as the model for their constitutions and codes. That of Magdeburg, known as the Magdeburger Recht, was copied by many towns in Germany and eastern Europe.