history- crime and punishment- normans, anglo saxons, medieval 1000-1500

GCSE HISTORY

crime against person definition

crimes that inflict harm upon a person- murder, rape, harassment, DV etc

crime against property definition

crimes of theft, no threat of force or violence- burglary, arson etc

crime against authority definition

crimes that threaten/oppose government/leaders- treason, espionage

medieval england / Middle Ages

1250-1500

renaissance England / early modern

1500-1700

rate of change

the speed at which change happens

crimes against person- anglo Saxon

• murder

• assault

• insulting a neighbour

• public disorder

crimes against property- anglo Saxon England

• petty theft

• ploughing someone else’s land

• poaching

• counterfeiting coins

• arson

crimes against authority- anglo Saxon England

• betraying your lord

• treason

poaching- anglo saxon

a social crime, many villages did not punish perpetrators

tithing

every male villager over the age of 12 form a group to prevent crime

hundred

ten tithings, each English shire divided into

hue and cry

victim of crime/ witness of crime shouts out- all who hear help to apprehend the criminal. all those who do not join expected to pay a fine

collective responsibility

if an individual commits a crime, it lets down the entire community

trial by local jury- anglo Saxon

jury from local tithing who know both the accuser and accused, listen to both sides, come to a verdict to decide who is telling the truth

trial by ordeal- anglo Saxon

used if local jury cannot decide the outcome of crime- often took place in church- priest always present

trial by hot iron

• accused holds burning hot weight in hand

• hand is then bandaged, wait 3 days

• hand healed= God has judged accused as innocent

trial by hot water

• accused puts hand into boiling water

• hand then bandaged, wait 3 days

• hand healed= God has judged accused as innocent

trial by blessed bread

• accused eats bread

• bread eaten without choking= God judges accused as innocent

trial by cold water

• accused tied to rope and lowered into water

• accused floats= blessed water has rejected them= God judges accused as guilty

punishment for treason- anglo Saxon

capital punishment- hanging

punishment for repeat petty theft- anglo Saxon

corporal punishment- mutilation, hand cut off

humiliation as punishment- anglo Saxon

stocks and pillory, public humiliation

blood feuds- anglo Saxon

victim/victims family has right to kill the person accused of a serious crime- led to long-lasting feuds and violence

wergild- anglo saxon

fine paid instead of blood to victim- fine depending on social status of the victim

battle of Hastings

1066- William of normandy, the Norman conquest

murdrum- norman

if a Norman killed- people of that region had to pay a collective murdrum fine

forest laws- Norman

poaching punishable by death, cutting down of trees forbidden, activities previously allowed in anglo Saxon england made illegal- to protect hunting grounds for normans

“Women’s authority nil. Let her in all things be subject to the rule of men.”

norman legal text defining the harsher laws on women

William I approach to crime

• establish royal authority

• centralise approaches to crime and punishment

• increase wealth of crown

collective responsibility continued in norman england

• tithings

• hue and cry

• trial by ordeal

role of sheriff and posse- norman

report any law breaking in parish to the king

feudal system

a way to organise society into different groups based on their roles- king at top, peasants at bottom. norman established.

manor courts- normans

discuss and punish crimes that took place on the land of the lord of the manor

reasons for trial by combat-normans

settle disagreements over money or land

trial by combat- normans

accuser and accused fight until one is killed/unable to fight- loser then hanged as god has deemed them guilty

church courts-norman

used if a member of the church was accused of a crime- typically much more lenient than a normal court. no use of capital punishment

posse- norman

group of men over 21 organised by sheriff to catch a criminal

royal court 1163- norman

introduced by Henry II- appointed by king, court would travel the country to hear the most serious cases

coroner 1194- norman

introduced by Richard I- investigate any death caused by unnatural causes. coroners appointed by king

justices of the peace 1195- norman

appointed by Richard I- knights to maintain law and order, known as keepers

justices of the peace 1327-norman

Edward III develops keepers into JOPs- meet 4x a year, attend manor courts, enforce the law, appointed by king

parish constable 1285-norman

introduced by Edward I- men in parish would volunteer. keep peace in parish during spare time

constitution of Clarendon 1164-norman

passed by Henry II- attempt to curb the power of church courts and papal authority in england

punishments kept in norman england (continuity)

• increased use of capital punishment for serious crimes and reoffenders

• corporal punishment

• fines for less serious crimes

punishments changed in norman england (development)

• murdrum fine introduced

• end of wergild- fines paid to monarch instead

pope bans trial by ordeal

1215- ends in 1219 in england

peasants revolt

1381

Magna Carta signed

1215- king and government not above the law

the neck verse

used in benefit of the clergy- psalm 51 used to prove accused is actually a member of clergy, but many memorised it easily. ‘save your neck’

punishments used by church courts

• enforced pilgrimage

• confession

• apology at mass

end of the benefit of the clergy

1827

domesday book 1086- norman

record of tax, property, jobs etc ordered by William I

prisons introduced- norman

Henry II- 1166

statute of labourers 1351- norman

introduced by Edward III- illegal to demand wage increase

punishment for high treason- late medieval

hung, drawn, quartered

examples of medieval punishments

• stocks and pillory

• beatings

• maiming

• death by hanging (commoners)

• death by beheading (nobles)

• fines

• prisons

sanctuary- norman

• only available in important churches

• once inside church, criminal under church protection- cannot be captured by sheriff

• 40 days- leave country or attend trial

• not left after 40 days= outlaw

date of the end of sanctuary

1536- Henry VIII

moral crimes in norman england

• failure to attend church

• drunkenness

• playing games on a sunday

church during medieval times

Roman Catholic Church

crimes against authority-norman

• treason

• rebellion