Domesday Book Flashcards
Why did William commissions the Domesday survey and when did it take place?
England was under threat of invasions from the Vikings.
Huge amount of land had changed hands and Norman’s wanted to be sure about who owned what.
William wanted to know how much he owned so he could tax it and make more money.
What was the process in creating the Domesday book?
The country was divided into 7 circuits.
Anglo Saxon records were studied and then commissioners visited each 100.
Some areas were missed out such as Northern areas which were not fully under Norman control.
Findings were presented to a jury at shire court-mix of Norman and Anglo-Saxon land owners. The Jury had to check the account in Domesday was accurate.
What happened when all the Domesday data was collected?
The findings were complies into 2 accounts, ordered by individual and by location.
They Domesday book was then presented to William at Sailsbury on 1st August 1086.
At a formal ceremony his main tenants had to swear loyalty tot he king.
What sort of questions were asked to land owners in the Domesday survey?
- How many animals were there?
- Who held the land at the end of Edwards reign?
- who holds land currently in 1086?
- how many hides were there? (Areas of land)
- how many villagers?
- how many mills, fish ponds and meadows are there?
What did the Domesday book show about land distribution?
- It showed William owned about 20%.
- the church owned 25%
- about 10 members of Norman aristocracy held a further 25%.
- remaining 30% was held by a further 250 people.
What did the survey show about how the land was controlled and how was this similar to Anglo-Saxons?
The land was controlled by about 250 people which was a similar situation at the time of Edward. However, now the land was mainly held by foreigners.
What did the Domesday book tell William about the population and number of knights?
In 1086 there were about 2000 knights with 10,000 Norman settlers. The total population of England was about 2 million people.
What information was in the Domesday book?
Estimated value of land under Edward Confessor and King William. (See any change) and how holding of land had changed over the same period.
What was the Ely enquiry?
A document that shows what questions were asked. Also states that the sheriff, local baron, priests and villages swear an oath to answer questions honestly.
What areas were left out of the Domesday book?
- Northern areas such as Cumberland and Westmorland because they were not fully controlled by Norman’s.
- County if Durham because bishop of Durham had the power to raise taxes as it was a vulnerable border.
- London and Winchester because they were exempt form certain taxes and this may have been too complex.
What financial reasons caused William to create the Domesday book?
- many of Williams tenants-in-Chiefs enjoyed special deals that meant they didn’t have to pay tax on some of their land. It is possible William had a plant to reverse some of these privileges as a way of extracting money form his tenants. There were heavy geld taxes in 1084 and 86
- survey would allow William to charge rents and tax people more efficiently since they would know how much income everyone would have. It would be impossible to claim you couldn’t afford taxes and be believed.
What legal reasons caused William to create the Domesday book?
- land disputes took up court time and caused unrest. A through survey would reveal who owned what and how it had changed some 1066. it would reduce land disputes as people would have a chance to say who owned what.
- since 1066 William had given land to his lords and bishops in so many bits and pieces it was unclear who had which lands, the survey showed exactly who owned what.
What military reasons caused William to create the Domesday book?
In 1085 England faced yet another invasion from the Vikings and Count of Flanders. William bought soldiers over form Normandy and needed money to pay and provide for them. This may have encouraged him to carry out the survey so that he could raise as much geld as possible and know who’d owed military service.
