Watchmen (law enforcers)
Encyclopedia
Watchmen were groups of men, usually authorised by a state, government, or society, to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement. Watchmen have existed in various guises throughout the world and were generally succeeded by the emergence of formally organised policing
.
where the Prophet Ezekiel
states that it was the duty of the watch to blow the horn and sound the alarm. (Ezekiel 33:1-6)
The existence of watchmen have also been found in the Ottoman
, Greek
and Egyptian Empires.
The Roman Empire
turned the role of a watchman into a profession by creating two organizations:
which required the the appointment of constables to summon men to arms, quell breaches of the peace
, and to deliver offenders to the sheriff
, is cited as one of the earliest creation of the English police, as was the Statute of Westminster 1285
. In 1252 a royal writ established a Watch and Ward with royal officers appointed as Shire Reeves:
Later in 1279 King Edward I
formed a special guard of 20 sergeants at arms who carried decorated battle maces as a badge of official office. By 1415 a watch was appointed to the Parliament of England
and in 1485 King Henry VII
established a household watch that became known as the Beefeaters.
From 1485 to the 1800s it was the Watch and Ward that acted as London's police force upholding and enforcing the laws of the land.
was based on practices developed in England. The City of Boston
was the first settlement in the 13 colonies to establish a night watch in 1631.http://www.nleomf.com/TheMemorial/Facts/impdates.htm New York
(then New Amsterdam
) and Jamestown
followed in 1658.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
.
Early origins
An early reference to a watch can be found in the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
where the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
states that it was the duty of the watch to blow the horn and sound the alarm. (Ezekiel 33:1-6)
The existence of watchmen have also been found in the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Greek
Greek Empire
-Classical Greece:* Athenian Empire* Macedonian Empire-Hellenistic civilization:In the Hellenistic period, Greek Empire can refer to any individual successor state of the Diadochi:* Seleucid dynasty* Antigonid dynasty* Ptolemaic dynasty-Middle Ages:...
and Egyptian Empires.
The Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
turned the role of a watchman into a profession by creating two organizations:
- the Praetorian GuardPraetorian GuardThe Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
thus establishing a rank and file system with a Captain of the Guard. - VigilesVigilesThe Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani or Cohortes Vigilum were the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome.-History:...
, literally the watch.
Watchmen in England
The Ordinance of 1233 required the appointment of watchmen. The Assize of Arms of 1252Assize of Arms of 1252
The Assize of Arms of 1252, also called the Ordinance of 1252, was a proclamation of King Henry III of England concerning the enforcement of the Assize of Arms of 1181, and the appointment of constables to summon men to arms, quell breaches of the peace, and to deliver offenders to the...
which required the the appointment of constables to summon men to arms, quell breaches of the peace
Breach of the peace
Breach of the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries, and in a wider public order sense in Britain.-Constitutional law:...
, and to deliver offenders to the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, is cited as one of the earliest creation of the English police, as was the Statute of Westminster 1285
Statute of Westminster 1285
The Statute of Westminster of 1285, like the Statute of Westminster 1275, is a code in itself, and contains the famous clause De donis conditionalibus , one of the fundamental institutes of the medieval land law of England...
. In 1252 a royal writ established a Watch and Ward with royal officers appointed as Shire Reeves:
By order of the King of England the Winchester Act Mandating The Watch. Part Four and the King commandth that from henceforth all Watches be made as it hath been used in past times that was to wit from the day of Ascension unto the day of St. Michael in every city by six men at every gate in every borough by twelve men in every town by six or four according to the number of inhabitants of the town. They shall keep the Watch all night from sun setting unto sun rising. And if any stranger do pass them by them he shall be arrested until morning and if no suspicion be found he shall go quit.
Later in 1279 King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
formed a special guard of 20 sergeants at arms who carried decorated battle maces as a badge of official office. By 1415 a watch was appointed to the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and in 1485 King Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
established a household watch that became known as the Beefeaters.
From 1485 to the 1800s it was the Watch and Ward that acted as London's police force upholding and enforcing the laws of the land.
Watchmen in the United States of America
The first form of societal protection in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was based on practices developed in England. The City of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
was the first settlement in the 13 colonies to establish a night watch in 1631.http://www.nleomf.com/TheMemorial/Facts/impdates.htm New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(then New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
) and Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
followed in 1658.
See also
- City guardCity guardCity guard, city watch, town guard or town watch was a law enforcement formation found in some countries and historical periods, usually subordinate to the local municipal government...
- ConstableConstableA constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
- Security Officer
- Nightwalker StatuteNightwalker StatuteNightwalker statutes were English statutes, in the era before modern policing, allowing or requiring night watchmen to arrest those found on the city streets and hold them until morning...
- Mall copMall CopPaul Blart: Mall Cop is a 2009 crime comedy film written by and starring Kevin James as the title character and directed by Steve Carr. The film was released on January 16, 2009 by Columbia Pictures.- Plot :...
Further reading
- David Barrie, Police in the Age of Improvement: Police Development and the Civic Tradition in Scotland, 1775-1865, Willan Publishing, 2008, ISBN 1843922665. Chapter "watching and wardning", Google Print, p.34-41