Animals, Dietary Norms and Sanctions in Burchard’s Corrector

Abstract

Animal feed and food animals can be seen as two complementary perspectives for considering some of the most interesting passages in Burchard`s Corrector sive medicus, where both (animals and food) are often the object of human misconduct. Beyond the complex topic of the types of food allowed for consumption during penance, my aim in this paper is to analyse the subject matter regarding animals as perpetrators of crimes and the consumption by humans of their flesh and derivatives (animals and their products as food), as well as the specificities of the penance or sanctions in such cases. The mere existence of these textual passages is an indication that punishment was not spontaneous, as has been presupposed in academic research. On the contrary, the Medieval Christian church’s efforts to extend control over all aspects of society and relationships between humans and animals is reaffirmed in this non-improvised response. As a product of culture, the consumption of food from “criminal animals” follows dietary taboos and norms. Nonetheless, food cannot be easily disregarded: its ingestion must be regulated in order to prevent misuse and/or misconduct.