Release from Prison

Abstract

Nothing more needs to be said here either of those whose departure from prison led to their immediate execution or of those who died there as a result of disease, ill-treatment or suicide. It should, however, be remembered that a very substantial number of captives in the high middle ages are recorded as having met with one or other of these fates. Nor is there any point in elaborating much on those who obtained release by accepting the terms set by their captors, whether surrender of property or political advantage or payment of ransom or indeed the specific form of ransom represented by substantial costs of residence in jail. One typical example of the benefits accruing to a captor from the release of his prisoner may suffice here: in the mid-twelfth century, Raimond Gauceln, lord of Lunel, recompensed the liberality with which William VII, Lord of Montpellier, had released him from captivity by returning to William’s possession Lansargues, which William’s father had given his father.¹ Such events were too common to excite much interest in contemporary annals, and therefore we know little about them except that they happened. Similarly, the release at the end of their sentences of royal officials and others condemned to precise terms of punitive imprisonment caused no comment.