Medieval England C1000-1500

• What does the medieval period cover?

  Anglo-Saxon Era, Norman Era, Later Medieval England
• What is a crime?

  An activity that breaks the law
• Who made the laws in the Anglo Saxon Era?

  The people with power and wealth
• What are some crimes against the person?

  Murder

  Assault

  Public Disorder

  Rape
• Name 3 crimes against property

  Arson

  Theft

  Counterfeiting coins
• Name the two crimes against authority

  Treason

  Rebellion
• Most laws were based still based on local custom and were not written down
• Around 1000, the king started issuing codes of law that made certain actions crimes. This meant laws were becoming more unified across the country
• When Did Henry VII become king?

  1154
• William I added new laws that created new crimes, demonstrating how a powerful king can lead to change.
• What is poaching?

  Hunting wild animals on other peoples land without paying 'hunting rights'.
• Poaching is a form of theft
• What form of theft increased dramatically after thr forest laws were introduced?

  Poaching
• Poaching was seen as a social crime as it was considered to be acceptable by many people
• In Medieval England, the church created laws and criminalised some actions and influenced types of punishment
• When was the Norman conquest?

  1066
• King William I wanted to establish his authority over his new kingdom
• William I established his authority by adding new crimes. Such as Rebellion, those covered by the forest laws and the murdrum fine.
• What percentage of England became royal forest?

  30%
• Who was evicted from the land so royal forests could be created ?

  Village communities and farms and it caused resentment
• The royal forests were now protected by the forest laws
• Who were the only people allowed to hunt in the royal forests?

  People who paid hunting rights
• In the royal forests, it became illegal to graze animals, kill wild animals or take wood without a licence.
• Who saw the forest laws as unfair?

  ordinary people, so those who broke these laws werent seen as criminals
• The normans weren't welcomed by the Anglo-Saxons
• A hundred is a area of land
• What was the Murdrum fine?

  A way to establish control over the conquered population. If an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman and the culpret wasnt caught a large sum of money had to be payed by the hundred where the body was found.
• In Medieval times there was no official police force
• In the Anglo-Saxon communities most people had a strong sense of duty towards their communities
• What were tithings?

  Shires were split into areas called hundreds and each hundred was split into 10 tithings. All people of a tithing were responsible for each other; if one of them was accused of a crime, the others would make sure he went to court of the tithing would pay a fine for them
• What's the Hue and Cry?

  The victim or witness of a crime raised a hue and cry by shouting to alert others. Anyone who heard it would be expected to chase and help catch the suspected criminal.
• Swearing oaths before god was a major part of Anglo-saxon justice. The accused could swear their innocence under oath and others could support them as oath helpers.
• There were more changes in medieval times that saw the start to move towards the authorities being more responsible for enforcing the law.
• Continuity; The Anglo-Saxon system of tithings, the hue and cry and most the court system continued. Law enforcement in most cases remained the responsibility of the community.
• Change; The Normans introduced trial by combat as another way for settling disputes. The two people involved would fight until one was killed or one surrendered.

  
  

  Another change was the use of foresters to police the royal forests and enforce the forest laws. they delt with suspects very harshly and were often feared and hated by the local communities.
• Parish Constables;

  
  

  -Nominated by local community

  -Unpaid

  -Held the post for a year
• Following the Justices of the peace act in 1361, the role of keeper of the peace evolved to become justices of the peace. They were appointed by the monarch and were mostly local lords . They had the power to hear minor crimes in small courts 4 times a year.
• The aims of medieval punishment were, retribution, deterrence and to keep people safe.
• There were 6 main types of punishment in the Anglo-Saxon times;

  Fines, Stocks, Maiming/mutilation, flogging, hanging and capital
• Anglo-Saxon punishment:

  • Fines and compensation, including the wergild, were the most common forms of punishment
  • Corporal punishments were fairly common, but capital punishment was rarely used