KT1 1000-1500

• What time period does the medieval period cover?

  End of Anglo-Saxon era to later medieval England
• Define crimes against the person, property, and authority.

  • Crimes against the person: Assault, murder
  • Crimes against property: Theft, arson
  • Crimes against authority: Treason, rebellion
• Who made laws during the Anglo-Saxon period?

  People with power and wealth
• How were serious crimes punished in medieval England?

  Harshly, with severe penalties
• What was the role of the king in law-making during Anglo-Saxon times?

  Issuing codes of law
• How did William I influence laws after 1066?

  He added new laws creating new crimes
• What significant change occurred under Henry II in 1154?

  Standard laws were written down
• What is poaching in medieval England?

  Hunting on others' land without rights
• Why was poaching considered a 'social' crime?

  It was acceptable for survival
• What role did the Church play in medieval law enforcement?


  Defined criminal activity and punishments
• What were the Forest Laws?

  Laws protecting royal hunting grounds
• What was the consequence of the Forest Laws for ordinary people?

  Eviction from common land for hunting
• How did the Murdrum fine establish control over the population?

  Imposed fines for unsolved murders of Normans
• What was the purpose of the Murdrum fine?

  To penalize communities for unsolved murders
• What percentage of England became 'Royal Forest' under William I?

  About 30%
• What was illegal in the Royal Forests?

  Grazing animals and taking wood without a license
• Why was the Forest Laws seen as unfair?


  They restricted access to common land
• What was the responsibility of local communities in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  Preventing crime and catching criminals
• What was the role of tithings in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?


  Groups responsible for each other's behavior
• What was the hue and cry in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  A call to alert others of a crime
• What was the significance of swearing oaths in Anglo-Saxon justice?

  It was a way to prove innocence
• How were courts structured in Anglo-Saxon law enforcement?

  Different courts for different crime severities
• What was the role of the Church in deciding guilt or innocence?

  Handled cases when jury couldn't decide
• What was a significant change in law enforcement after 1066?

  Introduction of trial by combat
• What was the role of parish constables in law enforcement?

  Local people nominated by the community, unpaid, held the role for a year
• What was the role of foresters in Norman law enforcement?


  Policed the Royal Forests and enforced laws
• How did the role of authorities change in later medieval law enforcement?

  Authorities became more responsible for law enforcement
• What system of law enforcement continued from the Anglo-Saxon period?

  • Tithings
  • Hue and cry
  • Court system
• What new method of dispute resolution did the Normans introduce?

  Trial by combat
• How did trial by combat reflect Norman society?

  It showed the military nature of Norman society
• What role did 'foresters' play in Norman law enforcement?

  They policed Royal Forests and enforced laws
• What was the role of parish constables?

  Local people nominated to maintain peace
• How long did parish constables hold their position?

  For one year
• What was the purpose of castles built by the Normans?

  To represent royal authority and impose law
• What were the roles of local communities and government-appointed officials in law enforcement?

  • Local communities continued the hue and cry system
  • Parish constables led chases for criminals
  • Towns had night watches for patrolling
• What significant change occurred in law enforcement from the 1250s?

  Parish constables began leading criminal chases (hue and cry)
• What was the role of night watchmen in towns?

  Volunteers patrolled streets for criminals
• What happened to trial by ordeal and trial by combat in 1215?

  They were abolished
• Who appointed knights as keepers of the peace in 1195?


  Richard I
• What change occurred in 1327 regarding keepers of the peace?


  System was extended to all areas