Marcher Earldoms

• Why was Marcher Earldoms being Shire-sized and centered on the shire town a key feature?

  The Marcher Earldoms were smaller and more compact meaning that they were easier to control but also ensured that the Marcher Earls were not as powerful as the King.
• Why was Marcher Earldoms having special treatments to create settlements a key feature?

  Marcher Earls had the rights of the King as they were able to create towns, markets and establish churches. This helped Earls to attract people from Normandy to colonize in the frontier region
• Why was the Marcher Earls being granted full power of the law a key feature?

  In the Marcher Earldoms the Sheriffs worked for the Earls by controlling the shire court. This gave Earls almost complete power over the legal system in the earldom. This meant the Earls could respond quickly to disobedience
• Why was Earls being exempted from tax a key feature?

  Earls did not have to pay tax in the Marcher Earldoms unlike Earls in the rest of England. This was a reward for their loyalty which encouraged them to spend money on new settlements and defenses
• Why was the Earls having the right to build castles a key feature?

  The Marcher Earls were free to build castles wherever they needed, unlike the rest of England. These castles were used to control the area and launch attacks at Wales. They were essential to controlling the Marchers