Crime and Punishment / 1066-1087
Crime and Punishment: Norman Authority
William used land, law, castles, language, and violence to make Norman rule secure.
What To Remember
- After 1066, the king's authority over law and punishment increased.
- William used harsh punishments and destruction to crush rebellion.
- Norman legal changes protected the conquerors and made fines a source of royal power.
Crushing rebellion
Many Anglo-Saxons resisted Norman rule between 1066 and 1087.
William used brutal violence against rebels and destroyed farmland to warn others.
This showed that disobedience to the king would be punished severely.
Law as control
The murdrum fine made communities pay if a Norman was murdered and the killer was not caught.
Forest Laws made former common land royal hunting land.
Both laws protected Norman interests and expanded the king's control.
Land and tax
William claimed ownership of all land and granted it to loyal supporters.
The feudal system turned land into a chain of loyalty, military service, and tax collection.
Domesday Book recorded wealth so the king could tax the country more effectively.
Court and language
French became the language of the courts, while records were kept in Latin.
Most Anglo-Saxons understood neither, which made law feel more distant and Norman-controlled.
Fines paid to the king replaced victim compensation through wergild.
Revision Prompt
Which Norman method increased royal authority most: castles, land, tax, or law?