8.4 Norman government and law Flashcards
After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, how did William reward the mercenaries?
With Land
Define thegn?
Non-noble landowners; bailiffs; took care of the administration of the Hundreds and the local areas and the peasant workers.
By the end of 1070s how many English earls are left in power?
2
Describe the Feudal system and it’s purpose
Hierarchical Norman system introduced to England by William, land (goes down the pyramid) is provided through a promise of service or money (up the pyramid). Those on the top provide protection to those in the bottom.
Top
King
Tenants-in-chief (Earls and Barons)
Knights
Peasants
Bottom
Describe the King’s role in the feudal system
- owns all the land officially
- can exchange it to other people for oaths of fealty
- paying homage to the King
- kneel and swear the oath
- William keeps 22% for himself/double Edward’s 12%
Describe the tenant-in-chiefs role and knights in the feudal system
-receive land directly from the King
-tenants in chief held approximately half the land
-10 large tenants in chief who owns 25-30% of the land themselves
-1400 tenants in chief who owned smaller pockets of land recorded in domedays book
-Grant their land to follower through a process called subinfeudation
-The biggest change from Saxon times was that in return for land, military
service became a formal obligation
-Tenants-in-chief had to provide an agreed number of soldiers usually for 40 days per year. This was called servitium debitum.
-To fulfil this duty, many barons either granted land to knights (in return for
military service) or paid knights to be part of their own household army.
-These knights had to swear the oath of fealty (loyalty) to their lords.
-By 1100, the King could call on about 5000 knights.
What is the idea of money replacing service in the feudal system?
Scutage in the ideology of Fiscal feudalism
How does the new Norman feudal system change the Anglo-Saxon system?
- Thegns are gone
- All the landowners are known Norman
- All the peasants are Anglo-Saxon
How is the Anglo-Norman class divide represented by food?
Words in English language for food on the table is Norman-French; beef, pork, capon, veal. The word for the animal when they’re in the field is anglo-Saxon. This tells us that those who are raising the animals are Anglo-Saxon and those eating the animals are Norman.
What Norman role is excluded from the feudal systems?
Marcher Lords
How are the Marcher Lords different from all?
William dealt with the Welsh border (called the Welsh Marches) by
granting the land to his most trusted supporters (Earls of Chester, Shrewsbury and Hereford). These Marcher Lords had special powers, such as building castles
without the King’s permission. They can hold their own courts, pass their laws and in effect rule their own baronies like a King.
Briefly describe how the Norman law system and Anglo-Saxon law system differed?
Anglo-Saxon law system- based on community, village
Norman law system- based on society, accountable to the King
What new laws were implemented involving forests?
A area put reserved for hunting for the King or in some circumstances the Marcher Lords.
How did language in law change?
All laws now written in Latin, you have to be educated to access the law
What punishments did the Normans use?
Mutiliation (removing an arm, hand, eye)
Capital punishment death
What Anglo-Saxon law system did the Normans keep?
Saxon England had been efficiently run. William used this system. England was divided into 134 shires just like in Saxon times, but the power of the Shire Reeve (sheriff) increased.
How did William provide the feeling of continuity with the courts?
-He issued a charter (a written royal order) guaranteeing the people of London the same liberties as under Edward.
-Royal orders (writs) were produced by the Chancery (a group of educated officials who served the King). This was the same as in Saxon England. He even continued to use English. However, the Normans
issued far more orders.
Describe the Court System in Norman England?
Most severe crimes
Kings Shires Hundreds Lords Manor
Least severe crime
Church Court
What new courts did the Normans introduce?
Lord’s Court
Church
Explain the King’s court?
The King’s Court dealt with royal pleas, including the most serious offences: murder, treason, arson, robbery and rape. The king would also hear appeals from the lower courts.
Explain the shire court?
The Shire Courts were supervised by the sheriff (or shire-reeve). These met regularly in each shire and made judgements on violent crime and theft. They also heard land disputes.
Explain the Hundreds court?
The Hundred Courts were held monthly and supervised by a bailiff, who was appointed by the sheriff. These dealt with minor disputes that did not need to be heard by the sheriff himself.
Explain the Lord’s court?
The Lord’s Court (or honorial court) was introduced by the Normans. Lords could deal with their tenants, hearing criminal cases and disputes and also dealing with property transactions.
Explain the Manor court?
The Manor Courts were held at village level. Each lord of the manor would deal with cases arising from day-to-day life.
