norman government Flashcards
How did William limit the power of earls in Norman government?
❖When his loyal followers were replaced, William made their earldoms smaller or, like Wessex and Mercia, redistributed them altogether.
❖The special powers given to the Marcher earls immediately after the invasion were gradually reduced.
❖Earls were tenants-in-chief, and could be punished by forfeiture like other tenants.
How did William use regents in the Norman government?
William had two countries to run, and therefore was absent from either for periods of time. While he was away he appointed regents to keep control in his absence.
❖William’s first two regents, Bishop Odo and William FitzOsbern, caused problems and resentment among the Anglo-Saxons in 1067.
❖Archbishop Lanfranc was William’s regent in 1075, and helped to prevent the Earls’ Revolt.
❖William often left his wife, Matilda, as regent of Normandy.
❖He tended to return quickly when he heard of problems in England.
how did William centralize power in Norman government?
He owned all of the land in England. He used the feudal system to pass on this land as fiefs. Land gave him control over tenants-in-chief and the Church. Conditions for William granting land to his subjects included the payment of geld tax and supplying knights. The Domesday Book allowed William to calculate the wealth of all of the land in England
what was one thing william kept the same
William kept the units of measuring land such as the hide, the hundred and the shire. This helped William to work out people’s tax payments
what is another thing william kept the same
The royal treasury stayed in Winchester. William used silver pennies in the economy as the Anglo-Saxons had. William minted coins, which was a responsibility of Anglo-Saxon monarchs.
how were the norman shire reeves different to anglosaxon
the role of sherrifs had much greater power - sherrifs only answered to the king - so they were undisputed leader of their shire - those who failed the king forfeited their role.
-normans keps the same legal system- but added new laws to punish rebellions against norman control- which the sheriff was responsible for enforcing.The establishment of Church courts and the manorial courts reduced the legal responsibilities of sheriffs
-sheriffs kept the role of organizing the defence of the shore and gathering the fyrd. but this system ran alongside knight service- which sherrif was not responsible for. main rmilitary role was custodian of king castle in shire.
what was the forest laws
Feature 1: Strict Regulations on Hunting
The Forest Laws made it illegal for common people to hunt in royal forests without permission (1). These laws were designed to protect the king’s hunting grounds and the animals within them, such as deer (1).
Feature 2: Severe Punishments for Violations
Those caught breaking the Forest Laws faced harsh punishments, including fines, mutilation, or even execution in extreme cases (1). This was intended to deter people from poaching or using the forest’s resources without royal consent (1).
causes of forest laws
-williams love for hunting
- william owning 18% of england as royal demense
- implement royal control on hunting
significance of forest laws
The establishment of the forest strengthened William’s authority
‘Forest’ is Latin for ‘outside’, showing the land was different from the rest of society
William imposed harsh punishments on those who broke the Forest Laws
Killing William’s deer had the punishment of blinding
William’s personal land increased
By extending the forest, William could land grab from his subjects
William’s actions seemed more legitimate than land grabs by sheriffs. As King of England, William was the law
Forests gave William another source of money-
Those who broke the Forest Laws paid fines to William
People could purchase hunting rights
They were so expensive that no peasant could afford them
consequence due to forest laws
- resentment between the king and his people
-increase in power and wealth for william
-harsh punsihments for poaching- including blinding
