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Since 11th century, as the church reform movements and collection of canon laws progressed, it was imperative to clarify the essential legal managements and prosecutions for the means of maintaining the christian society. Canons in relation to the characteristics of excommunication emerged from the Second Lateran Council in 1139. The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 refers to the procedures and characteristics of excommunications in detail. Consequently, it becomes possible to precisely organize substantial notion of excommunication through the general councils after 11th century. Therefore, It was especially necessary to scrutinize and apply the essence of Anathema and Excommunicatio, the most powerful punishment in canon law, through the canons of general councils.
The excommunication can be divided into Anathema and Excommunicatio, in which Excommunicatio is the generally perceived medicinal penalty. Anathema in essential is not a medicinal penalty because it is a punishment of the unforgiven whose souls are condemned to be thrown to Satan.
In the general sentence of excommunication, the offender is given several warnings after the confirmation of the crime. The ecclesiastical forum finally sentences excommunication as long as the offender does not repent and resists obstinately. Canon 15 of the Second Lateran Council, however, mentions the automatic excommunication only by the law itself without practicing any formalities of judicial procedures such as warnings anathema, excommunication, general councils, canon law, ecclesiastical discipline or sentences. The automatic excommunication is a unique procedure of excommunication in the late medieval ages distinguished from the canons of ancient general councils which did not develop this concept yet.
Besides, the efforts to clarify the legal effects and issues relating to excommunication is distinctively found in the canons of general councils. It implies that while excommunication was the most powerful punishment of the church, it was concomitant with the other social disadvantages. The church tried to keep its authority by separating persons who have been excommunicated, from the christian society, and by depriving them of legal rights. The accompanying effects of excommunication such as infamy, depriving the right to argue or the right of petition in a law suit, and complete dismantling of feudal rights of rulers and lords brought a devastating result leading them to a state of death.