Wergild, in ancient Germanic law, refers to the value assigned to a person's life or bodily injury, often used as a form of compensation or restitution. This concept aimed to prevent feuds and blood vengeance by allowing the victim or their family to receive a financial payment instead of seeking revenge. The amount of wergild varied based on the victim's social status and was intended to restore peace and balance within the community. It reflects the societal values of justice and reparation in early medieval cultures.