Facts- Norman England 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 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 main 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?
They had more power to make their own laws, castles and armies without the king’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 landowner’s 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 person’s loyalty?
Patronage.
For administrative purposes England was split up into 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.
