royal forests

• what were royal forests?

  Reserved woodlands for hunting by the king.
• why did William create the royal forests?

  he enjoyed hunting
• how did William make the royal forests?

  took land from other land holders

  evicted families from their homes
• royal forest laws


  -hunting on private land became new crime known as poaching

  -illegal to take weapons or dogs into the royal forests

  -illegal for ordinary people to hunt deer
• why were the royal forests important?

  -Harsh punishments for poaching showed Norman ruthlessness

  -showed king had greater power than existing laws

  -forest areas became another source of income for the king
• what had the Anglo Saxon laws about forests before Normans?

  -people had been allowed to hunt animals in forests to supplement their diets
• what were punishments for breaking the forests laws?

  -fines

  -mutiliations

  execution