Definition

1. Noun:
   • A legal code of the Salian Franks: "Salic law" refers specifically to the written legal code of the Salian Franks, a Germanic people, compiled in the early 6th century.
   • A principle of royal succession: By extension, "Salic law" commonly denotes the principle, derived from this code, that prohibits females from inheriting a throne or other hereditary titles.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Historians study the Salic law to understand early medieval Frankish society.
  • The French monarchy adhered to the Salic law, which barred women from the succession.

Advanced Usage

• "The Salic law of succession": This phrase explicitly refers to the application of the principle to royal or noble inheritance.
  • The dispute over the throne was settled by invoking the Salic law of succession.

Variants and Related Words

• Salic (adj): Pertaining to the Salian Franks or their laws.
  • The Salic tradition influenced many European legal systems.

Synonyms

• Frankish law: The legal code of the Franks.
• Male-preference primogeniture: A similar, though not identical, system of inheritance that prioritizes male heirs.

Related Phrases

• To be subject to Salic law: To be governed by this rule of succession.
  • Several historic European kingdoms were subject to Salic law.

Related Idioms

• "A Salic law provision": Often used metaphorically in modern contexts to describe any formal rule that excludes women from a position or right.
  • The old club's charter contained a Salic law provision, preventing women from becoming full members.

Noun

1. the code of laws of the Salian Franks and other German tribes