5.3 to what extent did aethelstan reform the government and administration of england? Flashcards
Give reasons why Aethelstan might want to change the governance of England? (3)
-*The kingdom he’s running is 4x bigger than Alfred’s was
-Limited communication
-To create a civil service
Why might it be difficult for Aethelstan to change the governance of England?
-Expensive
-The change of hierarchy frustrate ealdormen
-Has to trust people to do work for him
In what 4 areas of governance and administration did Aethelstan make changes?
-Role of King
-Role of Royal Court and the Council
-Role of Magnates
-Law codes
In what ways was the role of King similar to past rulers? (3)
-The nature of Kingship, this is essential to kingship as it provided protection
-Importance of oath taking and the consequences of failing to carry out duties
-Family ties
In what ways was the role of King different to past rulers? (2)
-Aethelstan never married>anxiety in the royal court over succession and the relationship with his family and close associates
-Fosters more than the average King in his household e.g. Hakon (Harald’s son)
In what ways was the role of the Royal court and Council similar to past rulers? (1)
-Remained an institution that was transitory and mobile
In what ways was the role of the Royal court and Council different to past rulers? (2)
-Prevalance of royal feats, good behavior was awarded here, feasts were all over the kingdom, other kings copied him
-Office responsible solely for the drawing up of charters, contained a royal Chancery, secular>gives him more control
In what ways was the role of Magnates similar to past rulers? (1)
-Ealdormen continued to be associated with the King through blood ties or marriage
In what ways was the role of Magnates different to past rulers? (4)
-Considerable pressure for the role of ealdormen to be reformed:
-Reorganised the provinces by dividing Mercia into the East (East Anglia) and West (e.g. Worcester)
-Atleast one leader from East Anglia had emerged as a ‘half king’=refferered to as a kingdom, not an ealdorman>rise in the status of ealdormen
-Meets 3 times a year with Aethelstan
How many Magnates are there? Why?
Where were they?
7, they are too powerful to have too many
1 in Northumbria, 2 in Mercia, 4 in Wessex (more money in Wessex, more control is needed there)
What are Magnates?
How do you become one?
The ealdormen of ealdormen (very senior)
Through loyalty, it is NOT inherited
In what 3 ways was England divided?
Shires (biggest unit)
Hundreds (smallest unit, replaced hides)
Buhrs (middle ground, like cities)
Give 3 ways there was change in shires under Aethelstan
They would have twice-yearly shire meetings with the presence of a local bishop to review the defence and discuss issues of internal security
Give a way there was continuity in shires under Aethelstan
Shires were already divided and came together to form a large geographical regions>formed local government
Give a way there was change in hundreds under Aethelstan
Hundreds are related to the amount of hides in the Shire e.g. 100 hides=1 hundred
These were counted by population instead of geographically=effective
Give a way there was continuity in hundreds under Aethelstan
Shires being subdivided into hundreds, aka ‘wapentakes’ in the Danelaw
Give a way there was change in buhrs under Aethelstan
Buhrs became more econically important, as a trade centre instead of a military defence
This is because Aethelstan owns England
Give a way there was continuity in buhrs under Aethelstan
Aethelstan continued to use buhrs as the centre of administration and legal governance
Who made the most changes to laws, after Alfred? Why?
Aethelstan, to create a sense of shared values in a diversifying and expanding his kingdom
Why was Aethelstan’s law codes produced?
To meet the changing circumstances as the kingdom had expanded a great deal>complicated
How were Aethelstan’s law codes written? Why?
Venecular so they could be read and applied by local officials
What is the order of Aethelstan’s law codes?
I
II
V
IV
III
VI
What did I Aethelstan deal with?
Who was to oversee this? What did they get?
-The paying of tithes to the Church and Ordinance on Charities
-Reeves, responsibility to collect other dues to the Church and to feed the poor
What were ‘plough alms’? What were these linked to?
What was the clear motive behind I Aethelstan
-Dues of a penny per area of land, that could be put under the plough, linked to bhurs
-To gain projection of God for the King and his subjects
Where was II Aethelstan created?
What issues did it cover? (6)
What was this law code for?
Grately, Hampshire
-Administration of justice
-Capturing of thieves
-Minting coinage
-Establishment of uniform coinage
-Functions of trial by ordeal
-Rules for the purchasing of cattle
*Tool for maintaining stability and obedience
What were reeves required to obtain from shires?
What was there an emphasis on?
What was the lowest age you could be persecuted at? Why?
What was theft associated with?
-Pledges from shires that all laws would be obeyed
-Theft
-12 years old, no concept of teenagers
-Breach of loyalty or oath taking
Where was V Aethelstan created?
The failure of what law code led to V Aethelstan?
What punishment was given for for theft?
Exceter
II Aethelstan
Short-term amnesty (pardon) if they agreed to pay victims compensation
What did a meeting in Faversham focus on?
Whose role was also further tightened and how?
Aethelstan V
-What was to be done about ‘power kindreds’ (families of ealdormen) who were disturbing the peace and challenging the King’s authority
-Reeves, if any of them neglected their duties, they would be fines and removed from office
Did V Aethelstan achieve the results Aethelstan hoped for?
Which council produced IV Aethelstan?
No
Thunderfield, Surrey
How was IV Aethelstan much different to other parts of the law code?
What penalty was given to thieves?
What happened if a thief tried to run?
Took a much tougher stance
Death penalty
Killed
What happened if reeves neglected their duties in IV Aethelstan?
What were ‘powerful kindreds’ reminded of?
Heavy fines
They would still be treated the same way as thieves
Which 2 law codes is III Aethelstan connected to?
Why is this difficult to say for certain?
What was this a statement showing?
What was this an acknowledgment of?
What did it confirm?
IV, V
-There was no written record of events at Faversham
-An appreciation of what Aethelstan was attempting to do with his law code
-That the laws were understood and would be implemnted
-Propaganda
-His reforms were having a positive impact
What is VI Aethelstan a statement about?
What was created here?
What was the aim of this isntitution?
-How law and order was to be perserved on London
-London peace guild
-An alliance between prominent ealdormen and guild members to combat crime in the city
What was special attention paid to in VI Aethelstan?
Who was provoking the unrest it was created to deal with?
How were individuals confronted?
Thieves, but also those who sheltered from the law
Powerful kindreds
Groups of guild members
Who did VI Aethelstan record the views of?
Who were they seeking advice from?
What did this law code show?
Londoners about law and order
Aethelstan
Aethelstan wanted to clamp down on crime and was willing to impose heavy sanctions
