Medieval England crime

What eras of England does the Medieval period cover?

Anglo-Saxon era, Norman England and later medieval England

Across all three eras of england in the medieval peiod what two things were always regarded as crimes?

theft and murder

What three types can Anglo Saxon crimes be broken into?

crimes against the person, crimes against property and crimes against authority

Give examples of crimes against the person

public disorder, assault, rape and murder

Give examples of crimes against property

theft, poaching, counterfeiting, arson

Give examples of crimes against authority

treason, rebellion

By the year 1000 what were Anglo-Saxon kings doing?

issuing codes of law that make certain actions crimes, helping to unify laws across the country

Who is William I and when did he become relevant to England?

The Norman King of England, came to rule in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings

What new laws did William I add ?

forest laws and murdrum fines

When did Henry II become King?

In 1154

What is Henry II’s effect on laws in England?

standard laws were written down, creating a uniform legal system across the country

What is the Church’s role in law making?

it played a direct role in deciding guilt or innocence

What is a murdrum fine?

If an Anglo-Saxon murdered a Norman and the culprit was not caught, a large sum of money had to be paid by those in the hundred (area of land) where the body was found

What was William I’s law on rebellion?

those indirectly involved in a rebellion would be put to death along with those who rose up

what is poaching?

hunting wild animals on other people’s land without paying ‘hunting rights’- a form of theft that increased dramatically after the forest laws

How much of England became ‘royal forest’ for Norman nobility?

60% became royal forest (hunting ground) for Norman nobility

What happened to communities who previously lived in the ‘royal forests’?

They were evicted from the land and it became illegal to graze animals, kill wild animals or take wood without a licence