How were laws restricting the movement of serfs in Europe enforced?

by RunRunDie

  1. Would it have been difficult for a serf to move to a major metropolitan area and start a new life?

  2. How was this policed?

  3. Were there bands of men who would track down serfs and drag them back to their landowners?

  4. What was the punishment for leaving the land you were supposed to work?

I'd be interested to learn about any country that had serfdom (especially Russia).

michaemoser

In Germany (Holy Roman Empire - it was bigger than Germany now) a serf could escape to a city and after a year and one day his lord could no longer reclaim him (this rule is know as 'Stadtluft macht frei'). However this rule was abolished in 1231, as the Papacy and Emperors were fighting for authority.