Normans- Life under Normans

Question 1

How did William change the hierarchy?

Answer 1

William made the hierarchy so that he held far more power and replaced the Anglo-Saxon earls
The introduction of the Norman style feudal system also changed how England was defended. All land was technically owned by the king and anyone that was given land by the king had to pay taxes and provide men for military service.

Question 2

How did land ownership change?

Answer 2

William now held 22% of the land where Edward only held 12%
William made his most trusted and loyal supporters tenants-in-chief (barons and bishops) and granted them huge areas of land, there were about 200 of them

Question 3

What was the hierarchy like in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 3

Anglo-Saxon England had a hierarchy based on land ownership and 6 earls held most of the country for the king which led to rebellions such as Godwin

Question 4

How many thegns owned land in Anglo Saxon England?

Answer 4

In Anglo-Saxon England, there were about 4000 Thegns holding land

Question 5

What was the biggest change from Saxon times?

Answer 5

In return for land, military service became a legal obligation almost a “religious duty”
Tenants-in-chief had to provide an agreed number of knights usually for 40 days per year
They either granted land to kights (in return for service) or paid them to fulfill this duty
The Knights swore an oath of fealty

Question 6

By 1100, how many knights could the king call on?

Answer 6

5000

Question 7

How did William increase his power of patronage

Answer 7

He charged fees when his tenants died
He arranged the marriage of the widows of the tenants
He redistributed land if there was no male heir

Question 8

Why was Wales a tricky place?

Answer 8

It wasn’t a united country so William couldn’t take over it
as easily
Each area was ruled by a warrior prince

Question 9

What did William do to control the Welsh borders?

Answer 9

He granted the land there to his most trusted supporters and they became known as the Marcher lords

Question 10

Who were the Marcher lords?

Answer 10

Chester, Shrewsbury and Hereford

Question 11

What powers did the Marcher lords posses?

Answer 11

They could make laws, keep armies and build castles without permission

Question 12

How were king’s orders issued in Anglo-Saxon times and how did the normans change it?

Answer 12

By Writs

Normans issued far more Writs

Question 13

How did William change inheritance laws?

Answer 13

When someone dies, their property can only be given to the eldest son(primogeniture)
If a a tenant dies with no heirs, the lord keeps it
If the heir is too young, the lord keeps it and it’s profits until he is old enough

Question 14

What was the government like under the Anglo-Saxons?

Answer 14

England was split into 134 shires each under the control of a shire-reeve (sheriff)

Question 15

What did the Normans do to the government?

Answer 15

Nothing, they actually kept the system

They just replaced Anglo-saxon shire reeves with Norman sheriffs

Question 16

What was the Sherrif’s duty?

Answer 16

He made annual payments to the king
He collected taxes
He raised armies

Question 17

What did William do to the legal system?

Answer 17

He kept many Saxon features but they simplified it and made it more consistent
They also introduced The Honourial Courts of the Lord where the Lord dealt with crimes or property transaction on his land

Question 18

Describe the shire courts

Answer 18

It was established well before 1066
They now meet more regularly and supervised by sheriff
Disputes over theft and violence

Question 19

Describe the king’s courts

Answer 19

The most important person- his decisions are binding

Disputes over murder, treason, arson, robbery and rape

Question 20

How was the law enforced by the Normans?

Answer 20

Through various things such as constables, watchmen, Hue and cry, Tithings and the murdrum fine

Question 21

Describe the role of the constables

Answer 21

They had the power to arrest people, break up fights and prevent fires

Question 22

Describe the role of the watchmen

Answer 22

They made sure people stuck to curfews, prevented crime and caught criminals

Question 23

What was Hue and cry?

Answer 23

It was a system to catch criminals
Anyone who saw an offense had to raise an alarm and everyone who heard it had to try and catch the criminal if they ignored it they would be fined

Question 24

What was a Tithing?

Answer 24

A group of 10-12 freemen who promised not to commit any crimes if one did the rest would reveal them

Question 25

What was the Murdrum fine?

Answer 25

If a norman was killed and the murderer wasn’t revealed in 5 days the whole community would be fined

Question 26

Name the trials that were enforced?

Answer 26

Trial by ordeal
Trial by battle (Norman)
Oaths

Question 27

What were the trials by ordeal?

Answer 27

Trial by cold water

Trial by hot iron

Question 28

Describe the trial by cold water

Answer 28

An accused person will be dunked in a water usually a river that has been blessed with holy water, the idea was that the holy water would repel a sinner so the guilty would float

Question 29

Describe the trial by hot iron

Answer 29

An accused person will hold a red hot iron in their hand for 3 paces then it would be bound
Its checked 3 days later, if its infected then they were guilty

Question 30

Describe the trial by battle

Answer 30

The accuser and accused fight and the idea was that god would be on the innocent’s side and they would win
Allowed to surrender but if you did you’re declared as guilty
Not a battle to death but someone usually ends up dying

Question 31

What would happen if the accuser was wrong?

Answer 31

They would have to pay compensation to the king and the accused

Question 32

What would happen if the accused was guilty?

Answer 32

FOR SMALL CRIMES like theft they would have to pay a
fine
FOR BIGGER CRIMES they would be hanged or undergo physical mutilations

Question 33

What was the Domesday Book?

Answer 33

A full written record of property ownership across England and was completed in less than a year

Question 34

When was it decided to make the Domesday Book?

Answer 34

In December 1085, William met his Great Council in Gloucester and at this meeting he decided to order a survey listing all landowners and their tenants, how the land was used and all buildings such as churches

Question 35

What were the reasons for the Domesday Book to be made?

Answer 35

Norman landowners by 1085 were beginning to argue over who owned what so William wanted to make certain about who actually owned what
Also England was under threat of invasion from the count of Flanders and the vikings and he could find out by doing the survey who owed military service

Question 36

What were the key functions of the Domesday Book?

Answer 36

To record the transfer and passion of land
To record the value of each estate
To introduce a new system of taxation

Question 37

What was the process of making the Domesday Book?

Answer 37

The country was divided into seven circuits
Anglo- Saxon records were studied and 3-4 commissioners visited each circuit
The findings were presented to a jury at the shire courts
The jury had to check that the accounts were accurate

Question 38

What were the final steps of making the Domesday Book?

Answer 38

The findings were compiled into two accounts, ordered by individual and location
They were then presented to William at Salisbury in August 1086

Question 39

How many towns were recorded in the Domesday Book?

Answer 39

13,418