«Nudi homines cum ferro»

Abstract

The essay explores the role of penitential pilgrimage in the penal system of the Middle Ages. The practice of judicial pilgrimage, from late antiquity through the Middle Ages, did not have a good reputation. These pilgrimages were often imposed as punishments for serious crimes, including murder and sexual offenses. By the 13th century, pilgrimage was seen as a punishment for a wide range of criminals, from pirates to murderers, highlighting the punitive rather than spiritual nature of such journeys. Female pilgrimages were also heavily criticized, often associated with prostitution. This chapter also examines how the Church managed penance, evolving from a public penance system to a more private and tariffed regime, leading to a distinction between cultic penance and penance as inner conversion.