Covenant (historical)
Encyclopedia
In a historical context, a covenant applies to formal promises that were made under oath
, or in less remote history, agreements in which the name actually uses the term 'covenant', implying that they were binding for all time. One of the earliest attested covenants between parties is the so-called Mitanni treaty, dating to the 14th or 15th century BC, between the Hittites
and the Mitanni
.
Historically, certain treaties and compacts have been given the name "covenant", most notably the Solemn League and Covenant
that marked the Covenanter
s, a Protestant political organization important in the history of Scotland
. The term 'covenant' appears throughout Scottish, English, and Irish history.
The term covenant could be used in English to refer to either the Bundesbrief of 1291, or the Pfaffenbrief
of 1370, documents which led to the formation of the Swiss state or "Eidgenossenschaft
". In this usage the German "Eid" is being translated as "covenant" rather than "oath" in order to reflect its written status.
Under oath
Under oath could refer to:* Offering testimony while under oath and subject to charges of perjury* Underoath, an American metalcore band...
, or in less remote history, agreements in which the name actually uses the term 'covenant', implying that they were binding for all time. One of the earliest attested covenants between parties is the so-called Mitanni treaty, dating to the 14th or 15th century BC, between the Hittites
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
and the Mitanni
Mitanni
Mitanni or Hanigalbat was a loosely organized Hurrian-speaking state in northern Syria and south-east Anatolia from ca. 1500 BC–1300 BC...
.
Historically, certain treaties and compacts have been given the name "covenant", most notably the Solemn League and Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
that marked the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s, a Protestant political organization important in the history of Scotland
History of Scotland
The history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
. The term 'covenant' appears throughout Scottish, English, and Irish history.
The term covenant could be used in English to refer to either the Bundesbrief of 1291, or the Pfaffenbrief
Pfaffenbrief
The Pfaffenbrief is a contract dated to October 7, 1370, between six states of the Old Swiss Confederacy, Zürich, Lucerne, Zug, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden ....
of 1370, documents which led to the formation of the Swiss state or "Eidgenossenschaft
Eidgenossenschaft
Eidgenossenschaft is a German word meaning confederation. The term literally translates as "oath fellowship". An Eidgenossenschaft is a confederacy of equal partners, which can be individuals or groups such as states, formed by a pact sealed by a solemn oath. Such an alliance could be either...
". In this usage the German "Eid" is being translated as "covenant" rather than "oath" in order to reflect its written status.