Legal System under Normans

• Local Government under Saxons


  • split into 134 shires
  • a shire-reeve in charge of each shire
  • each shire had a capital where justice and taxations were organised
  • shires split into smaller areas called hundreds
  • Normans kept this system
• Sheriffs


  • duties included making payments to the king, presiding over shire courts, collecting taxes and raisign armies
  • vital link between king and local area
  • gradually all Saxon sheriffs were replaced to Norma ones
  • loyal sheriffs were vital to maintain control
  • Normans made new roles like Castellans who looked after royal castles and forests
• The Legal System


  • retained many features from Saxons because it worked well, and it helped prove that the Normans were legitimate rulers
  • big change was to simplify the system and make it more consistent in all different regions
  • most important courts remained King's Court, Shire, Hundred
  • new courts added were Lord's Court and Manor courts
  • William made church courts only deal with ecclesiastical matters
• King's Court


  • continuity
  • most important in justice system
  • dealt with royal appeals and serious offences
• Shire Courts


  • continuity
  • met more regularly
  • usually supervised by sheriff
  • heard disputes over land or crimes involving violence/theft
• Hundred Courts


  • continuity
  • held monthly with bailiff in charge
  • dealt with minor disputes
• Lord's Courts


  • change
  • added by Normans for the lord to deal with his tenants
  • dealt with crime/disputes and supervised property transactions or made announcements of new laws from the king
• Manor Courts


  • change
  • controlled by Lord of the Manor
  • dealt with day to day life
• Who had the power to arrest and break fights?

  Constables
• What additional responsibilities did constables have besides law enforcement?

  They held keys to stocks and did other work
• What was the role of watchmen in law enforcement?

  To ensure curfew and catch criminals
• How were watchmen selected for their duties?

  They were either volunteers or assigned
• What was the hue and cry system?

  A duty to raise an alarm during a crime
• What would happen if someone did not help during a hue and cry?

  They would be fined
• What is a tithing?

  A group of 10-12 freemen preventing crimes
• What was the purpose of the murdrum fine?

  To penalize if a Norman was killed and murderer not found
• What was the time limit for finding a murderer under the murdrum fine?

  5 days
• What would happen to the hundred if the murderer was not found within the time limit?

  The hundred would be fined
• How were suspects tried in the past?

  Through oaths, trial by ordeal, and trial by battle
• What was the role of oaths in trials?

  Witnesses swore on a holy book about character
• How did the use of oaths change under the Normans?

  Use of oaths gradually declined
• What was trial by ordeal based on?

  Religious beliefs that God would protect the innocent
• What were the methods used in trial by ordeal?

  Cold water or hot iron
• What does trial by battle reflect about the culture of the Normans?

  It reflects a militaristic culture
• Who participated in trial by battle?

  The accused and accuser or their champions
• What was believed about God's role in trial by battle?

  God would intervene to protect the innocent
• How were trials used to influence confessions?

  Trials often pressured people to confess
• What was the outcome of confessions during trials?

  Confessions could limit their punishment
• Feudal System - Change

  • stronger central authority
  • Saxons' was more localised and had a fragmented power structure
  • Norman rigid social hierarchy, clear ranks and obligations
• Feudal System - Continuity


  • king at top, places trust in barons/bishops and earls
  • sections could give land to sections below
  • hierarchal