papal administration and the rights of clergymen to make a last will These principles formed the core of the ecclesiastical regulations concerning the hereditary rights of priests in Sweden, and they were followed for the entirety of the Middle Ages. In 1412, when the Swedes celebrated a synod in the town of Arboga, it was additionally decided that bishops did not have the right to claim an inheritance from deceased priests (ius spolii), but the synod strongly advised all priests to bequeath a part of their property to the cathedral church.15 After having summarised the Swedish development regarding priests’ inheritance in the Middle Ages, let us turn focus to the medieval diocese of Turku. Since the diocese of Turku was part of the Swedish church province, the Swedish regulations were respected also there.16 But there were also some medieval regulations specific to Finland that are worth mentioning. While Cardinal William of Sabina was visiting Sweden, he stipulated one special statute regarding the Finnish priests’ right to bequeath their property. According to the document issued by the cardinal, dated in Visby on 5 June 1248, Finnish priests were allowed to bequeath to their chosen closest ones all the property they had accumulated whether 1) through inheritance, 2) by the work of their hands, 3) by teaching, or 4) received as a personal gift. All other property, however, was considered to be such that the priests had no rights to bequeath it to anyone.17 This document corresponds very well with the regulations included in the newly (1234) compiled collection of ecclesiastical norms, theLiber extra, regarding the rights of clergymen to bequeath their property.18 The Church thus recognized a clergyman’s right to private property but expected that they should bequeath the property belonging to their eccle15 Pirinen 1952, pp. 215–217. 16 Pirinen 1952, pp. 202–214. 17 The document is edited inRegistrum Ecclesiae Aboensis, document no. 11 (5.6.1248). 18 X3.26.9 and 12, edited inCICII, coll. 540–542. 172 Priests and Inheritance Rights in the Diocese of Turku
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