How did the Normans change Feudalism and Government?

Question 1

Why did William use the Feudal system?

Answer 1

It kept his followers loyal to him.

Question 2

How did the feudal system work?

Answer 2

1. The vassals gave oaths of fealty to their superiors.
2. William owned 75% of land, which was shared out to his tenants-in-chief.
3. The tenants-in-chief distributed this land to their followers via subinfeudination.

Question 3

What is a fief?

Answer 3

Land held within the feudal system.

Question 4

What is scutage?

Answer 4

Tax paid to the monarch instead of service

Question 5

What is a villein?

Answer 5

A free peasant

Question 6

What is patronage?

Answer 6

Land, titles, power given to ensure support from a person

Question 7

What is a tenant-in-chief?

Answer 7

Someone who held land from the king

Question 8

What is fiscal feudalism?

Answer 8

A system under which land could be exchanged for military service or money.

Question 9

What is a geld?

Answer 9

Tax levied to pay for something specific.

Question 10

What were hundreds?

Answer 10

Subdivisions of A-S land - 100 hides (measure of land) in size.

Question 11

What was an honorarial court?

Answer 11

A court where tenants could appeal against their landlord - often in castles.

Question 12

Who was at the bottom of the social hierarchy?

Answer 12

Peasants - split into slaves and villeins

Question 13

What did the knights do in the feudal system?

Answer 13

Held a fief in return for their lands.

Question 14

What did Marcher Lords do?

Answer 14

Lords who had more freedom to build castles and raise troops

Question 15

Where/why were Marcher Lords used?

Answer 15

Used to protect the borders (of the North and Wales)

Question 16

By what year were all Anglo-Saxon Earls removed from power?

Answer 16

1075

Question 17

What did William do to remove the threat of rebellion?

Answer 17

Gave out smaller land to (around 250) people.
This ultimately led to the Norman revolt of 1075.

Question 18

When was the Domesday Book written?

Answer 18

1086

Question 19

Why was the Domesday Book written?

Answer 19

There was threat of Viking invasion. William needed to enforce a geld to pay for his army -> ordered a survey to see what people had

Question 20

How much (%) of the country did the Domesday Book show was owned by William and his family?

Answer 20

20%

Question 21

How much (%) of the country did the Domesday Book show was owned by The Church?

Answer 21

25%

Question 22

How much (%) of the country did the Domesday Book show was owned by 10 aristocrats?

Answer 22

25%

Question 23

How much (%) of the country did the Domesday Book show was owned by 170 others?

Answer 23

30%

Question 24

How many knights and Normans were there in 1086?

Answer 24

2000 knights, 10,000 Norman settlers.
Total population: 1.5-2 million

Question 25

Where was William’s coronation held and why?

Answer 25

Winchester Abbey - reminded people that he had the approval of God

Question 26

How was the system of government similar to before?

Answer 26

The system remained more of less the same, but the people in power were replaced by Normans.

Question 27

What became the language of the government after 1066?

Answer 27

Latin

Question 28

What did the Shire court do?

Answer 28

Meet twice a year to discuss cases (about land, crime, rebellion, taxes…)

Question 29

Who oversaw the Shire court?

Answer 29

The sheriff

Question 30

What did the Hundred court deal with?

Answer 30

Local issues

Question 31

What was a common trial méthode in Norman England?

Answer 31

Fire and water -> combat. God was seen to determine the verdict.

Question 32

What was the murdrum fine?

Answer 32

A fine to deal with increasing violence towards the Normans. If a Norman was killed or harmed, the whole Anglo-Saxon village would all pay a fine.

Question 33

What sort of trial was introduced for noble men?

Answer 33

Trial by combat -> fight to prove innocence

Question 34

What were the Forest Laws?

Answer 34

Lawd William introduced to ban peasants from hunting in his forests.

Question 35

How did changes to Law and Order show a more modern approach?

Answer 35

1. Changes to inheritance and fines, rather than brutal punishments 2. Laws were written down 3. Latin as language of government