Aula Regis

or REGIA. Lat. The king's hall; sometimes called curia regis^ the king's court. A court established by William the Conqueror in his own hall or palace. It was the supreme court of the kingdom, and was composed of the king's great officers of state, resident in his palace, and usually attendant on his person; such as the lord high constable, and lord mareschal, the lord high steward, and lord great chamberlain, the steward of the household, the lord chancellor, and the lord high trea* surer. These high officers were assisted by certain persons learned in the laws, who were called the king's ^wi^taar*, or justices, and by the greater barons of parliament, all of whom had a seat in the aula regia, and formed a kind of court of appeal, or rather of advice in matters of great moment and difficulty. The presiding officer of this court was called the chief justiciar or justiciary of all England, (capitalis or summus jusiitiariu^ totius Anglia.) Bract, lib.

3, tract. 1, c. 1, fl2, fol. 105 b.

Gilb. Hist. C. Pleas. Introd.

18. 3 Bl. Com. 37, 88. 1 Beeves* Hist. Eng. Law, 48.

The Aula Regis was afterwards broken up into several courts, as the King's Bench, the Common Bench, Ch^Cery, and Exchequer, (qq. v.) a Bl. Com.^ 39.

K\JlM,Mme.

L. Fr. Soul. Ke Uum.

See Aim.