Booklet 2 Life under the Normans Flashcards
What were the names of the 5 levels in the Anglo-Saxon hierarchy?
King, Earls, Thegns, Peasants (free and unfree), Slaves.
What were the names of the 5 levels of the Norman hierarchy?
King, Barons and Bishops, Knights, Peasants (free and unfree), Slaves.
What were these systems of hierarchy known as?
The feudal system.
What was the Act of Homage?
When a vassal would kneel before their lord and submit to him by offering him his hands and then swear the Oath of Fealty.
What was the Oath of Fealty?
When a vassal promised to be be faithful to the lord and to serve him.
What were Royal Forests?
Areas of land created for the king to be able to hunt eg the New Forest in Hampshire.
What did the Barons and Bishops have to promise to give to William in return for land?
Their loyalty and a certain number of knights.
What were the mai pieces of equipment that a knight needed?
Horse, lance, shield, sword, chain mail hauberk(armour), helmet.
What did William create on the English border with Wales?
The Marcher Lordships.
What were the names of the Marcher Lordships?
Earldoms of Chester, Shrewsbury, and Hereford
How were the Marcher Lords different from other Barons?
Theyhad more power to make their own laws, castles and armies without the knig’s permission.
Under the Anglo Saxons when a landholder died what happened to his property and land?
It was divided between all his sons.
Under the Normans what happened to a landowners property and land when he died?
It was passed on to the eldest son (Primogeniture)
What was the Chancery?
A group of royal clerks who wrote royal documents, first set up by the Anglo Saxons.
What was it called when William gave an office eg Sheriff to encourage a persons loyalty?
Patronage
For administrative purposes England was split up in to a number of what?
Shires eg Gloucestershire
Who was in charge of each shire?
A shire-reeve under the Anglo Saxons which became a sheriff under the Normans.
What was each shire split into?
Hundreds or wapentakes
Why did the Normans keep the Anglo Saxon legal system?
It worked well and they wanted to show have continuity to show they were legitimate rulers.
What were the 5 levels of court in Norman England?
King’s, Shire, Hundred, Lord’s, Manor.
What was the job of a constable?
To enforce the law by arresting people, breaking up fights and preventing fires.
What was a watchman?
Someone who tried to make sure that people kept to the curfew, prevent crime and catch criminals.
What was a curfew?
The time by which everyone had to be off the streets and inside their houses.
What was a hue and cry?
When all people had the responsibility to catch a suspected criminal.
What was a tithing?
A group of 10-12 freemen who promised to prevent each other from committing a crime. If one of them did they had to all pay a fine.
What was the Murdrum fine?
A fine paid by the whole local community if a norman was killed by an Anglo Saxon and the killer had not been found.
In a court case what did people have to swear?
An oath that they were telling the truth about a persons character or what happened.
There were three different ‘trials’ used to establish someones guilt or innocence. What were they?
Trial by cold water, hot iron , and battle.
