West Saxon Society in the Age of Ine Flashcards
When was the West Saxons a united kingdom?
Probably during the reigns of Caedwalla (c.685-689) & Ine (c.689-726)
Why is it difficult to determine the earliest history of the West Saxons?
It has been obscured by 9thCE attempts to put their origins in the hampshire area
What may be the purpose of Ine 2 - a child needing to be baptised within 30 days of birth?
- Wanted to SOS (infant mortality rates much higher than now)
- Maybe wanted to support church business/function as a fundamental institution for society (spec)
- Maybe to convert Britons in the Kingdom to follow the right type of Christianity (App. Gaelic church crit for not baptising infants, and followed more old testament and outdated 5thCE version of christ)
- Maybe to convert pagan English - christ still pretty new to English
2/3 of a foreigners wergild goes to…
…the king - under his protection whilst there
Also emporia
Which law might be an example of ealdormen judging in common law type style?
“Anyone can deny bail by oath if he knows that he is doing right” (41.)
Probs noble cos oath worth a lot and probs “anyone” means anyone in the position of passing jud/deciding
What do laws 42 and 42.1 describe?
Ceorls can have shared meadows and responsibility to all fence their share - if dont and cattle gets in and eats stuff then they pay comp to the ceorls that did fence their bit
If its fenced and cattle herder loses control of herd and they break through then cattle can be killed on site with owner only being able to take hide and flesh
Whats a law protecting swineherding?
Pay 60s if cut down a tree that could have 30 swine under it
What could be an indicator of Ine’s need for armies?
Fine if “neglects military service” - if gesith-born man whose a landowner you forfeit the land too
What might indicate that it was a big commitment/risk pulling people in to vouch for you?
“Every man may deny by oath harbouring [of stolen goods?] and homicide, if he can and dare” (46.2)
What do cattle have under Ine’s laws?
A 30 day warranty
When are you allowed to sheer sheep?
Not until midsummer
What do godfather/godson have the same bond as in the laws?
As for a lord
What sources were used for ASC?
Wasnt all made up in Alfred’s time, used older sources so some centuries better recorded than others
What might be one reason ASC is skewed in some parts?
Missed out stuff cos Offa and Mercia at its height and wessex wasnt as independent/powerful as theyd like to show themselves
(think hideage too)
Why were ASC entries so short?
Not to tell you about events but to label years - before AD system, these events would have been well known to contemps (eg covis +1, or 9/11)
Why might the ASC focus on expansion west?
Maybe partly to downplay English v English conflict?
Brits the common enemy cos not christian in the right way
What is a type of entry sometimes found in ASC?
Predictive - eg Ine king in this year and reigned for 37yrs
Who did the term Welsh apply to?
Only for those that used to be Romans - an English term cos deosnt apply to Finns or Saami
What are some things never mentioned in English lawcodes in comparison to elsewhere?
Inheritance - In Irish eens much more detailed about this
- Maybe didn’t have any issues about it
- or everyone knew how that works
- or maybe there was a law code that covered it which hasnt survived to us
Perhaps if acknowledge illegitimate child it no longer becomes illegitimate?
Kentish law says if dont acknowledge bastard child then not entitled to its wergild
What is one type of source that has survivorship bias?
Charters - all surviving ones in Latin and refer to grants of land to the church
Who might a prefect be in charters?
Secular noble or King’s retinue - Possibly no term for sec people of significance in Latin
What may indicate churchmen were petitioning kings?
Ine’s law exempting the church from tax
Charters being given for the salvation of the king’s soul
