Vinodol law

In 1288 in Vinodol, a commission of representatives of nine Vinodol municipalities (Grobnik, Trsat, Bakar, Hreljin, Drivenik, Grižane, Bribir, Novi, Ledenice) compiled a list of customary law (law) that was applied in that area in the second half of the XIII. century. Today we call this medieval legal monument the Vinodol Law . Its compilers wrote the "old tried laws" in 75 articles, "of which they could be mentioned or heard from their fathers and grandfathers."

Vinodol law is one of the oldest European legal documents written in the vernacular. In Slavic terms, only Russian justice from the same century is older than it , and in South Slavic and Croatian space it is the oldest legal text. Many of its provisions reflect humanity and democracy (eg the influence of the government is limited, all residents are equal before the law). Although the power of the feudal government and the prince is limited, some articles of the Law show the influence of the government and ensure that influence (eg the law provides for situations in which the prince's man must be present). The democratic principles of the Law contradict its final provisions (the prince has full authority over the property and life of the people).