Anglo-Norman Government

• What did William keep in the Household and Chancery from Etc's reign?

  • William kept the same system of the king being: Supreme decision maker; Head of the Church; Chief arbiter of Justice; Pass laws; Raise an Army and Mint coins
  • William also brought the barons under control, unlike the Godwins family - only 3 baronial rebellions (1075, 1088, 1095)
  • William also used force and personality + the use of patronage + bringing great men into decision making (Domesday)
• How was William's Royal Household displayed?

  • Consisted of the material needs of the king and his family - the DOMUS
  • Household knights who were the king's bodyguards and core of army - the FAMILIA
  • Consisted of royal priests who prepared and issued writs
  • Could be used as King's court, where he listened to advisors, received visits and dispensed jusice - CURIA REGIS
• How did William display his power and authority

  • In his court, he would wear signs of majesty in front of his men
  • There were 3 separate occasions he would wear his crown:
  • Easter = In Winchester
  • Pentecost = In Westminster
  • Christmas = In Gloucester
• How did the Anglo-Norman Household the Kingship?

  • In 1072, William spent 3/4 of his time in Normandy. Regents were placed such as: Odo, FitzOsbern and Lanfranc
  • In William II's reign, he placed Ranulf Flambard to take control
• How did William change the Chancery?

  • William retained its head, Regenbald until he was replaced in 1069 by Herfast
  • Only 2000 writs remain from Anglo-Saxon period, while 15 per year are saved from William II and 41 a year from Henry
  • The writs were also adapted to be bilingual, being issued in Latin
  • Writs were adapted to announce grants of land and general orders and instructions
• How did William change the Geld and Economy?

  • William generated income through royal lands, justice through fines, taxation in towns and trade and the geld system
  • William continued the levying of the geld especially when in times of emergency, when he raised it from 2 shillings per hide to 6 in 1084 to fund his campaign in Maine
• What are the few modifications William make to the silver penny system?

  • William retained most of the moneyers who operated after 60 mints
  • New mints were opened at Cardiff and Durham and St Davids in Wales
  • No foreign coins were allowed, with new silver pennies replaced every 3 years
  • Henry I stated that anyone in possession of a foreign coin in 1100 should lose a hand
• What did William do with the Office of Sheriff?

  • They still conveyed the royal will through writs through sheriffs
  • They still also collected taxes and fines, overseeing royal justice and could raise an army in times of war
  • William tried to work with old Saxon Sherrifs (Tofi of Somerset + Edmund of Hertfordshire, but began replacing them after the 1070s
  • Due to the dismantling of the great earldoms, many sherrifs due to their power and autonomy believed they could gain more power
• How did William change the courts and law?

  • Preserved shire and hundred courts, with King being head of Justice
  • With the feudal system, manorial courts were introduced, which the lord of the manor maintained order in his estates
  • Forest Law needed its own courts
  • Ecclesiastical cases should be heard in church courts instead of lay
• What innovations did the Normans add in criminal law?

  • Murdrum Fine = If a Norman was murdered, a heavy financial penalty would be issued if the killer was not produced
  • Oaths and ordeal by battle = God would intervene on the side who was not guilty
  • Hanging and Mutilation = The most serious offences brought these punishments, as well as blinding, loss of a limb or castration