c1000-1500 Crime And Punishment- Medieval England Flashcards
What does the medieval period cover?
The end of the Anglo-Saxon era, Norman England and Later Medieval England
What actions have always been crimes?
(Medieval England)
Theft and murder
What makes something a crime?
A crime is a activity that breaks the law.
In the Anglo-Saxon era who made the laws?
People with power and wealth
Name 4 crimes against the person
•Murder
•Assult
•Public Disorder
•Rape
Name 3 crimes against property
•Arson
•Theft
•Counterfeiting coins
Name 2 Crimes against authority
•Treason
•Rebellion
By 1000, Anglo Saxon kings were issuing codes of law that made certain actions crimes, what did this mean?
Laws were becoming more unified across the country
After 1066 the importance of the king making laws decreased/increased as his authority increased
Increased*
William I added new laws that created new crimes, illustrating that a powerful king can lead to ______?
Change*
When did Henry II become king?
1154
What happened in 1154?
Standard laws were written down, there was now a uniform legal system across the whole country
Other than the king, what other huge authority was there in defining criminal activity?
The Church
Whats poaching?
Hunting wild animals on other peoples land without paying hunting rights.
What form of theft increased dramatically after the forest laws?
Poaching, peasants used what used to be “common land” to catch animals for food
Was poaching a social crime? If so why? If not why not?
Yes it was a social crime because it was considered acceptable for many people and helped people survive
What did reducing the amount of common land mean?
People had to now choose weather to break the law or go hungry
When was the Norman conquest?
1066
What are some of the ‘new’ crimes King William I added to the Anglo -Saxon ones?
Rebellion, Forest laws and the murdrum fine
How much of England was royal forest?
30%
Who could use the royal forest?
William I and the nobles (For hunting)
Who was evicted from the land (royal forests)?
Village communities and farms, this caused resentment
How did William I protect the royal forests?
With the New forest laws
Only those who payed ________ were allowed to hunt in the royal forests
Hunting rights*
What became illegal to do in the royal forests?
Graze animals, kill wild animals and take wood (without a license)
Were people who broke the forest laws seen as criminals in the local community?
No, because the forest laws seemed unfair
Key Term: Hundred
Area of land
Where the Norman’s welcomed?
No, there was a lot of resistance
Where were the large rebellions?
York and east anglia
Betraying your lord and rebelling against the king had been crimes in Anglo-Saxon times, but what did William I do to try and assert his authority? A
He punished these crimes A-LOT harsher, and ordered the death penalty for the rebels themselves
Did William I also punish those who were not directly involved in the rebellions?
Yes, estimates say 100,000 people starved to death due to the destruction of farm land and animals on Williams orders in the areas that had seen rebellions
What was the murdrum fine
If a Norman was killed and their murderer had not been found within 5 days, the hundred (all the local community) would be fined.
Was there a official police force in medieval times?
No, the community was largely responsible for preventing crime and catching criminals.
Where did most people in c1000 live?
Small Hamlets and farms
What were small towns called?
Burhs
I’m the tight-nit community’s did people have strong sense of duty towards their communities?
Yes, this was an important reason why the crime rate was fairly low and had an impact on how the law was enforced
Did the church play a large role in medieval law enforcement?
Yes it played a huge role
What’s a shire?
A Anglo-Saxon county
How many tithings were there in a hundred?
10
What happened if one man in a tithing was accused of a crime?
They all had to make sure he went to court or they would have to pay a fine.
What were shires split into?
Hundreds
What’s a shire reeve? (Later a Sheriff)
A local man appointed by the community to take criminals to court and make sure any punishment was carried out.
Who did the shire reeve meet regularly with?
One man from each tithing
What’s the hue and cry?
The victim/witness of a crime raised the hue and cry by shouting to alert others. Anyone who heard the hue and cry was expected to chase and help catch the suspected criminal
What did royal courts deal with?
The most serious crimes
What court delt with lesser Crimes?
Shire courts