Normans

• Who became king of England following the Battle of Hastings in 1066?

  William I
• Why did William I need to ensure control over his people?

  Because he was a new foreign king
• What were the biggest impacts William I had on crime?

  • Introduction of trial by combat
  • Mundrum fines
  • Forest laws
  • The harrying of the north
  • Travelling justices
  • County goals
  • Trial by jury
  • Justice of the peace
  • County coroners
• What was the trial by combat?

  The accused and the accuser would fight till death
• What advantage did wealthy Norman lords have in trial by combat?

  They could pay someone to fight for them
• What were mundrum fines?

  Fines paid by a village if someone killed a Norman and the killer was not found
• How did mundrum fines encourage village members to act?

  It encouraged them to snitch on the killer
• What restrictions did forest laws impose on Saxons?

  Saxons were not allowed to hunt, chop down trees, or own dogs in the forest
• What was the consequence of the forest laws for Saxons?

  They had to pay to hunt in the forests, which most could not afford
• What was the harrying of the north?

  William burnt down villages and slaughtered livestock in response to rebellions
• What was the impact of the harrying of the north on the population?

  It killed over 100,000 people and acted as a deterrent against rebellion
• What were travelling justices?

  People given power by the king to make judgments on his behalf
• How did travelling justices improve the court system?

  They made the court system more effective by reducing wait times for cases
• What were county goals?

  Early prisons used as punishment
• What was the significance of trial by jury introduced by William I?

  It allowed individuals to be tried by a 12-man jury instead of through ordeal
• What happened to trial by ordeal in 1215?

  It was ended, making all cases trial by jury
• How did the introduction of trial by jury limit the church's role in the justice system?

  It reduced the influence of church courts in legal matters
• What was the Justice of the Peace Act of 1361?

  It appointed justices of the peace to each county
• What powers did justices of the peace have?

  They could fine, bind, and arrest people disturbing the peace
• What were county coroners responsible for?

  Investigating suspicious or unexpected deaths
• What impact did religion have on medieval justice?

  • Benefit of the clergy: priests tried by church court, less harsh than king's court
  • Sanctuary: protection in church for 40 days from law
  • Sanctuary ended in 1536 when William VIII dissolved the monarchy
• What is the benefit of the clergy?

  The right for priests to be tried by the church court
• Why was the church court considered less harsh?

  It imposed lighter sentences compared to the king's court
• What was sanctuary in medieval justice?

  A protection offered in church for those pursued for crimes
• What happened after someone claimed sanctuary?

  They were protected for 40 days and then had to leave or face trial
• When did the sanctuary end?

  In 1536 when William VIII dissolved the monarchy