Crime and Punishment key terms/Dates (Anglo Saxon/ Norman)

Crimes against the person

Murder, assault etc.

Crimes against property

Theft, Robbery, arson

Collective Responsibility

If one person broke the law it was up to everyone to take action

Reeve

A local official appointed by the community

What are abbeys

Communities of monks or nuns

Moral Crimes

Actions that didn’t physically harm people but went against social ideals of the time e.g. adultery or having sex outside marriage. (Not following the church)

King’s Shire Reeve

Appointed locally to bring criminals to justice. (Later becoming a Sheriff).

What did the Anglo Saxon justice system rely on

Religion AND Oaths played a huge part in the justice system as long as the accused hadn’t been caught red handed they could swear an oath of their innocence and walk free

Who orchestrated Trial by Ordeal

The church

What Trial was left to God to decide?

Trial by Ordeal

What trials occurred in trial by ordeal

Trial by hot iron, trial by hot water, trial by cold water

What trial dunked the accused into water and proved their innocence if they sank in the water rather than floating

Trial by cold water

What is maiming

A punishment which causes physical harm to the criminals body e.g. cutting of a hand or ear

wergild

\`Mans price’ a fine for murder introduced to prevent blood feuds between families

Capital Punishment

Execution

Corporal Punishment

Causing harm/pain to the body e.g. removing body parts or beating

Retribution

A severe punishment set to match the severity of the crime committed

Deterrent

A frightening or punishment designed to put off people from doing the same crime.

Why was corporal punishment important as a deterrent

As people who survived eye gouging’s or amputations served as a reminder to others not to commit crimes or face punishment

What Punishment would you receive for crimes against authority

Hanging, beheading

When was the Battle of Hastings

1066

Who was the King during the Norman period

William the conqueror 1066-1087

How did William increase his authority as King

Increasing the number of executions and making the Law more centralised built mott and bailey castles in all towns to watch over the people

How did William deal with the rebellions in the north?

He punished rebels ruthlessly and even punished those who weren’t involved in the rebellion by urning all crops and putting salt into the soil. This led to a famine in which an estimated 100,000 people died of starvation as a result of Williams ruthlessness.

What was the Murdrum fine

If a Norman was murdered by an Anglo-Saxon and the murderer was not captured and executed there a special penalty which would be paid by the hundred in the area. Intended to stop revenge murders as a result of the Norman invasion and reduce the chance of neighbours covering up for each other.

How does the Murdrum fine show continuity?

Similar to Wergild and also tithings (collective responsibility)

How is Murdrum different to Wergild

Murdrum is only if a Norman was murdered and is also paid to the King rather than the victims family

What were the Forest Laws

A law which declared large stretches of land \`Royal Forests’ which William himself would use for hunting. Around 40 communities were evicted as a result of this.

What new Law did the Forest Laws introduce

Poaching- Illegal hunting on land that belongs to someone else

What was a social crime?

Acts against the law which most turn a blind eye to e.g. poaching

How did William police the Royal Forests?

He deployed foresters who were to arrest anyone found to be hunting without license and they would face a punishment of hanging or corporal punishment such as castration or blinding. (deliberately harsh to act as a deterrent)

What was an outlaw

Any man over 14 who tried to avoid trial and/or punishment by running away from their community.

Was there any legal consequences for killing an Outlaw or Waived woman?

No they could be killed without any legal consequence

What was the King’s mund?

The idea that all men were safe under the authority of the King

What was continuity with the Anglo Saxon period

The idea of ‘Kings mund’ similar to ‘Kings peace’ and also the idea of paying a fine for your crime

What was the change in Norman period

Fines were now paid to the King rather than the victims family (in Wergild) also there was increase in the crimes punishable by death or mutilation which was used an alternative to the death penalty e.g. branding/chopping off a body part. Poaching introduced as well as it becoming illegal to leave home.

What period began when Henry II come in

Later middle ages 1154