Anglo-Saxon England

• 3 crimes against the person:

  • Murder
  • Rape
  • Assault
• 2 crimes against property:

  • Theft
  • Arson
• 3 crimes against authority:

  • Treason
  • Poaching
  • Heresy
• What is poaching?

  The act of hunting animals on someone else's land
• Was poaching a social crime during in Anglo-Saxon England?

  Yes
• What was the King's Peace?

  The concept of enforcing law and order
• How was England split into areas in Anglo-Saxon England?

  • Split into Earldoms each controlled by an Earl
  • Earldoms split into Shires
  • Shires split into Hundreds
  • Hundred was made up of 10 tithings
• What was a tithing?

  A group of 10 families in which the men over the age of 12 were responsible for the other's behaviour
• What was a Shire Reeve?

  A person responsible for bringing suspects to court and ensuring they were punished
• What would Shire Reeves become in the future?

  Sheriffs
• What happened if a tithing failed to bring one of their members to justice?

  They were all fined
• What was the hue and cry?

  A responsibility for everyone who heard someone shout that a crime had been committed to chase after the criminal
• What happened if you did not take part in the hue and cry?

  You could be fined
• What were those who refused to attend court or escaped capture known as?

  Outlaws
• How were outlaws treated under the law?

  It was illegal to take care of an outlaw but there was no punishment for killing an outlaw
• What were the 3 courts of Anglo-Saxon England?

  • The Royal court
  • The Shire courts
  • The Hundred courts
• What was the Royal court?

  The court where the King presided over trials
• What trials were held at the Royal court?

  Trials involving nobility or very serious crimes
• What were Shire courts?

  Courts which met at least twice a year to hear local trials
• What type of crimes were seen at Shire courts?

  Serious crimes like murder
• What were Hundred courts?

  Smaller local courts which met once a month
• What type of crimes did Hundred courts deal with?

  Minor crimes
• Who presided over Hundred courts?

  The Reeve and a jury of local men
• What oath would be sworn if a suspect maintained innocence?

  The Oath of Innocence
• What would be used if a jury could not come to a decision?

  Trial by Ordeal
• Who were Oaths of Innocence sworn in front of?

  God
• Give 3 examples of Trial by Ordeal used for regular criminals:

  • Trial by boiling water
  • Trial by hot iron
  • Trial by water
• What did people believe Trial by Ordeal showed?

  God's influence to show whether a suspect was innocent or guilty
• How did Trial by Boiling Water work?

  • The accused submerges their hand into boiling water
  • If the skin heals well, they were innocent
• How did Trial by Hot Iron work?

  • The accused holds a red-hot piece of metal
  • If the wound healed well after several days, they were innocent
• How did Trial by Water work?

  • The accused is tied up and thrown into water
  • If they sank, they were innocent and would be pulled out before drowning
• Which punishments were used in Anglo-Saxon England?

  • Capital punishment
  • Corporal punishment
  • Wergild fines
  • Blood feud
  • Stocks and pillories
• What was the punishment for murder?

  Capital Punishment and Wergild payment
• What was the punishment for theft?


  Cutting off the hand
• What was the punishment for assault?

  Wergild fine
• What did the price of a Wergild fine depend on?

  The victim's social status
• Who was Wergild paid to?

  The victim, or their family if they died
• What was the Wergild fine meant to prevent?

  Blood feuds
• What was a blood feud?


  A violent retaliation from a victim or the victim's family against the perpetrator
• What was the punishment for disobeying an authority figure?

  Corporal or Capital punishment depending on the severity