The Sheriff & the Forest

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The Norman Legal System - Sherrifs

The Norman legal system kept some aspects of the Anglo-Saxon system, but there were also some important differences.

The sheriff (shire reeve)

The sheriff was much more important in Norman England than ever before. Some sheriffs exploited their power.
Sheriffs controlled the shire they were appointed to and answered directly to the king in Norman times. They had reported to the earls in Anglo-Saxon times.
Sheriffs continued to be responsible for defence (the army/fyrd) and for making sure that people in their shire obeyed the law. After castles were built, guarding Norman castles became the sheriff's responsibility.

The demesne

Demesne meant the money that sheriffs paid to allow them to manage the kings' land and estates.
Any money made after the demesne was paid to the king was kept by the sheriffs themselves.
Sheriffs were resented by local populations, because they took a share of all of the taxes that they collected for the king. This incentivised them to collect as many taxes as possible.

The Forests

William loved hunting. Because of this. he tried to seize more land through the 'Forest Law'.

The Forest

William took land away from earls increasing his ownership of land in England.
The land was known as 'forest' and it was private hunting land for his use.
Local people were often relocated and their homes removed in order for William to hunt in his forest land undisturbed.

Forest laws

Some local people hunted on William's forest land. Anyone found 'poaching' William's animals (also called quarry) on William's land or found guilty of damaging his plants, was harshly punished, with some Anglo-Saxons being blinded for these kinds of crimes.
So William seized land from people, made money from the operations of the demesne, and punished anyone doing anything on the lands that he had taken.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

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