1.1 Monarchy and Government (All in 1)

What military role did the Anglo-Saxon king have

The king was the supreme military leader and the only person allowed to raise an army

How did the Anglo-Saxon king control religious matters

The king appointed Church leaders and had authority over the Church, reinforcing his divine right to rule

What was the king’s responsibility in the legal system of Anglo-Saxon England

The king was the chief lawmaker and judge, responsible for creating laws and settling disputes

What economic powers did the king have in Anglo-Saxon England

The king had the exclusive right to mint coins and was responsible for protecting the integrity of the currency

What was the royal household in Anglo-Saxon England

The royal household was a mobile court made up of the king’s family, servants, clergy and elite soldiers, through which the king exercised power

What function did the chancery serve in the Anglo-Saxon

The Chancery was a royal office that produced and distributed official writs to enforce the king’s commands

Why wasn’t the king’s power absolute in Anglo-Saxon England

The king had to work with powerful nobles and gain their cooperation to govern effectively, which limited his authority

What role did the witan play in Anglo-Saxon governance

The witan was a council of nobles that advised the king, approved laws and appointments, and helped resolve disputes

How did Edward the Confessor struggle to maintain royal power

Edward the Confessor was unable to fully control his nobles and was dominated by the powerful Godwin family

What role did earls play in Anglo-Saxon England

Earls governed large regions called earldoms, acting in the king’s name to maintain peace, raise armies, and administer justice

What were the four principal earldoms in Anglo-Saxon England

Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia

What were shires in Anglo-Saxon and who were responsible for governing them

Shires were the main administrative units where daily government functions took place, and there were nearly 40 of them.

A royal office called a sheriff governed the shire

What duties did a sheriff have in Anglo-Saxon England

Sheriffs collected tax, ran shire courts, settled disputes, and led local forces during emergencies

What social class did sheriffs usually come from

Thegns

What were hundred in the Anglo-Saxon local government system

Hundreds were subdivisions of shires, each made up of a dozen or so villages and overseen by reeves

What was the role of a reeve in Anglo-Saxon England

A reeve was a local official who managed smaller areas like hundred and villages, ensuring the king’s orders were carried out

What was the role of the king in the Anglo-Saxon legal system

The king presided over the most serious crimes and was responsible for upholding the “king’s peace” to protect his people

What were shire courts, and how often did they meet

Shire courts were regional courts that met twice a year to handle serious cases like land disputes and theft

What was the function of the hundred courts in Anglo-Saxon England

Hundred courts were the lowest public courts and handled everyday local legal matters for most people

What was a tithing, and what role did it play in law enforcement

A tithing was a group of ten freemen responsible for each other’s conduct and for pursuing criminals

How did Edward the Confessor handle legal matters during his reign

Edward did not issue new law codes but relied on the legal traditions of earlier kings and gained a reputation for justice

Why was there no fully uniform legal system in Anglo-Saxon England

Different regions followed their own laws and customs