norman England

• William the conqueror introduced trial by combat. What is trial by combat?


  The accused and the accuser would fight till one gave up or one died. The looser was considered guilty.
• how did trial by combat benefit the rich (the lords)


  people could pay somebody to fight for them
• what was one way William enforced his leadership 


  the murdrum fine
• Murdrum Fine


  A type of feudal punishment imposed on a community for failing to report a murder committed within their jurisdiction
• Forest Law


  A set of rules and regulations established by the Norman kings to manage and conserve the forests they inherited from the Anglo-Saxons
• Forbidden Forest Activitiesillegal under forest laws

  Hunting, cutting down trees, keeping livestock without permission, poaching
• Harrying of the North


  The devastating campaign of destruction and pillage carried out by William the Conqueror in 1069-1070 against the North of England
• why did the harrying of the north happen


  After the Norman invasion when william I came to power in England there were a number of rebellions against him
• what did william I do deter further rebellion in the north


  burn down villages, kill livestock, salt the earth
• Travelling Justices


  A group of high-ranking officials introduced by William the Conqueror to improve justice and reduce corruption in Norman England
• Because some cases needed to be heard by the king, but the king was busy who handled this

  the travelling justices who had been given the power to make justice on behalf of the king
• Who appointed knights to keep the King’s Peace in 1195?

  Richard I
• What were the knights appointed by Richard I in 1195 known as?

  Keepers
• When did Edward III develop the role of keepers into Justices of the Peace?

  1327
• How often did Justices of the Peace meet to enforce the law?

  Four times a year
• Who appointed Justices of the Peace?

  The king
• Who made up the jury in a trial by local jury?

  Men from the village tithing
• What was the jury's role in a trial?

  To listen to accounts and decide who was telling the truth
• How did the jury's knowledge of the accuser and accused influence their decision?

  They could use their knowledge of both people's characters
• What role did coroners play in 1194?

  To investigate unnatural deaths
• Who appointed coroners?

  The king
• What was the benefit of clergy in English law?

  Clergymen could claim to be tried in ecclesiastical courts
• Why was religion important in England from c.1000 to c.1500?

  The Church played a significant role in law and order
• What was often the responsibility of the Church regarding crime?

  To decide whether an individual was guilty of a crime
• What was the process for a criminal seeking sanctuary?

  A criminal could go to a church to claim sanctuary
• Where was sanctuary available?

  In important churches
• What was the time limit for a criminal in sanctuary to attend trial or leave the country?

  40 days
• What happened when a criminal entered sanctuary?

  The criminal was under the Church’s protection
• What did a criminal have to do if they chose to leave the country after claiming sanctuary?

  Walk barefoot while carrying a cross to the nearest port
• What happened to anyone who did not leave within 40 days of claiming sanctuary?

  They were considered an outlaw
• When did offering sanctuary end?

  1536
• What were church courts introduced for in Norman England?

  To try churchmen accused of a crime
• Who oversaw church courts?

  A local bishop
• What types of crimes did church courts hear?

  Moral crimes such as failure to attend church
• How did the punishments from church courts compare to those from manor or royal courts?

  Punishments from church courts were not as harsh
• Did church courts sentence people to death?

  No
• How did William I influence the laws after 1066?

  He added new laws that created new crimes, increasing the king's authority.
• What is poaching and why was it considered a social crime?

  Poaching is hunting wild animals on others' land without permission, seen as acceptable by many for survival.
• What was the Murdrum fine and its significance?

  The Murdrum fine was a law requiring payment if an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman and the culprit was not caught.
• What was trial by combat introduced by the Normans?

  Trial by combat was a method of settling disputes where two people would fight until one was killed or surrendered.