truce of God, in the Middle Ages, an attempt by the Catholic church to limit private warfare between feudal lords. It is related to the peace of God, which exempted clergy, women, children, and peasants from battle or attacks. The truce of God was proposed (A.D. 958) by Pope John XV and was first applied in 1027. It prohibited fighting from 9 PM Saturday to 3 AM Monday, which was soon extended to span Wednesday evening to Monday morning. Religious days were also included. That left only 80 days a year for fighting. The truce spread from France to Germany, Italy, Flanders, and Spain, and from 1123, it was backed by the threat of excommunication. The increasing power of kings (the "peace of kings") and the subsequent rise of strong national governments rendered the truce of God unnecessary and ineffective for enforcing internal peace. It lapsed in the 13th cent.

Truce of God

Measure by the medieval Roman Catholic Church to suspend warfare on certain days of the week and for certain church festivals and Lent. It was instituted in France as early as 1027, and elsewhere in Europe (excluding England) during the next several decades. The popes later took its direction into their own hands, and the first decree of the Council of Clermont (1095) proclaimed a weekly truce for all Christendom, with an oath of adherence to be taken by all men over age 12. The truce was most powerful in the 12th century but was never entirely effective.