1.2: crime, punishment & law enforcement in norman england

• • during the norman period, influence of king over law increased
  • punishment & law enforcement became more CENTRALISED & fewer decisions made by local communities
  • william's reign increased harsh punishments to boost visible power & authority of king
• | increased powers of norman kings

  rebellions & norman response

  • william was determined to establish his royal authority & stronger, centralised approach to crime and punishment
  • there was resistance from Anglo Saxons & william used brutal means to force ppl to submit
• | norman castles

  • norman lords lived here to control local population under norman law
  • designed to keep watch on communities & look intimidating- reminding ppl of their place in society
  • represented increasingly strong royal authority over law & order
• | the feudal system

  • everyone owed money/service to class above
  • only king free to do what he want
  • normans replaced anglo saxon nobled w/ normans
  • anglo saxon serfs were legally bound to work for their lord & not allowed to leave their village

  
• | murdrum - a NEW law

  • if norman killed by an anglo saxon & wasnt caught, fine had to be baid by the hundred where body was found
  • supposed to stop increase of revenge murders since norman invasion & make it less likely that ppl would cover up crime for a neighbour
  • murdrum fine shows CONTINUITY w/ anglo saxon system of collective responsibility for behaviour & idea of compensation for a loss of life
• | william I's forest law

  • declared large stretched of countryside to be royal forests for HUNTING
  • 40 village communities evicted for clearance
• | william I's forest law

  • forest law meant COMMON LAND was now strictly controlled by king
  • those who afford to pay for HUNTING RIGHTS would be allowed to hunt
  • illegal to carry weapons
  • POACHING: hunting wild animals for food
• | william I's forest law

  • ppl NOT like because took away people's access to natural resources which they saw as fundamental freedom
  • ordinary ppl saw the forest laws as UNJUST & unfair so they didn't frown upon breaking these laws
  • forest laws created 'SOCIAL CRIMES': actions that are against the law but most in society dont disapprove of
• | william I's forest law

  • king hired men to work as foresters to enforce the forest laws & catch poachers
  • anyone caught was faced punishments eg hanging, blinding, castration
  • punishments harsh to deter others from poaching
• | outlaws & the forest

  • any man who tried to avoid trial & punishment by running away were OUTLAWS
  • women who ran away were waived
  • they lost protection of law & can be killed without legal repercussions
• | outlaws & the forest

  • outlaws had strong link w/ forest
  • folville gang made of 50 outlaws who carried out many crimes for 20 years
• | punishments & law enforcement in norman england

  continuity & change in norman punishments

  • wergild ended; fines paid to king not victim
  • example of increasing centralisation of law enforcement & extended authority of king in crime & punishment
  • norman system of law based on idea that all men should be safe under the authority of the king- this idea = KING'S MUND