Crime and Punishment: Saxons and Normans

Created by: Flora
Created on: 24-05-13 13:04

View mindmap

Saxons and Normans
- Law
  - Saxon
    - The King made the laws with his noblemen and bishops.
    - Many laws were connected to religion.
  - Norman
    - The Forest Laws were introduced
    - William the Conqueror became King in 1066.
- Punishment
  - Saxon
    - The Blood Feud
    - Wergild
      - Fines or slavery
    - Outlaws - could be killed by anyone
    - Capital punishment
      - Treason
      - Arson
      - Betraying the Lord
    - Corporal punishment (mutilation etc.)
      - Repeated offenders.
  - Norman
    - Minor crimes: humiliation; stocks and pillories.
    - Fines were common.
      - Not responding to hue and cry.
    - Wergild was replaced by public execution
    - Serious crimes: mutilation.
    - Punishments could be avoided.
      - Benefit of Clergy
        The Neck Verse
      - Pregnancy
      - Joining the army
      - Buy a pardon
      - Become a King's approver
- Law enforcement
  - Saxon
    - Friends and family need to find the evidence.
    - Tithing - (since 900 AD)
    - Hue and cry - members of tithing respond.
  - Norman
    - Still had hue and cry, tithing etc.
    - The hue and cry changed - led by constable and the whole village responds.
    - Watchmen
    - Coroner
    - Sherrif
    - Constable
- Trials
  - Saxon
    - Courts
      - Royal
      - County/Shire
      - Private
    - Trial by ordeal
      - Hot iron
        For women
      - Hot water
        For men
      - Cold water
        For men
      - Consecrated bread
        For priests
    - Trial by juries
      - Oath helpers
      - Jury of local men who knew the people involved
  - Norman
    - Trial by ordeal abolished in 1215
    - Trial by combat - battling for land
    - Church courts
      - Benefit of Clergy
- Women
  - Secondary citizens.
  - Treated unfairly
  - Defined role
  - Few rights
  - Can't own a property; divorce her husband; marry without parents' permission; inherit property or money.
  - Can be punished for being a scold
    - Ducking stool
Norman
- The Forest Laws were introduced
- William the Conqueror became King in 1066.
Many laws were connected to religion.

Comments

Report Tue 18th February, 2014 @ 16:51

Very detailed and useful mind map covering the four key areas of study here. Each part is helpfully colour coded into either Saxon or Norman. You could go on to create a table of simialrities and differences as one of the key areas is continuity and change in this topic.