Anglo-Saxon Monarchy And Government Flashcards
Define danelaw
The area in which Vikings lived and ruled
Define burh
A fortified town (surrounded by strong walls)
Define earl
The most important group below the king, they were appointed by the king and collected taxes and oversaw law
Define earldom
Massive areas of land controlled by earls which consisted of thousands of acres
Define shire
A large town in which local people hid and were protected if the area came under attack
Define fyrd
The army
Define thegn
Local lords who controlled villages on behalf of the king, protected villagers and collected taxes
Define ceorl
Free peasants who worked for thegns or earls but were not owned by them
Define slave
People who were treated as property as they could be bought and sold
Define witan
A council of about 40 men that advised the king which was made up of thegns, bishops and abbots
How could a person increase their status?
Pay for it
What percentage of the population were slaves?
9.7%
What were the four main earldoms?
Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex
What did it mean that the thegns were a warrior class?
They could afford weapons and horses and were always expected to be ready to fight
What was a ceorl’s life valued at?
200 shillings so this would be paid to his family if he was murdered
How did the villagers repay the thegns for protecting them?
By farming the thegns land and paying them with sheep and milk and eggs
Give 8 points about the King’s role
By 9th century all Anglo Saxon kingdoms ruled by one king, has the power to make new laws, could give land to his followers or take it away as punishment, raise the fyrd (army), decide when to collect taxes, control creation and distribution of coins, he had to be constantly on the move to control to control his people because his power lay wherever his presence was, Witan (council of 40 men) helped him rule
Give 7 points about the role of Earls
Most important group in society after the King himself, controlled an earldom each so were very wealthy, appointed by the king, collected taxes for king, oversaw law and order in earldom, judge cases to decide who was guilty, king’s generals at war (led their followers into battle to protect the king)
How were earldoms broken down?
Broken down into shires which each had a burh (large fortified town where people hid if the area came under attack
Give 4 points about the role of Thegns
Local lords who each controlled several villages on behalf of the King, offered protection to villagers, served king by collecting taxes, settle disputes to make each village peaceful
Give points about the role of ceorls
Depended on thegns for work, expected to fight alongside them for the King if England was attacked
