Crime and Punishment / 1000-1066
Crime and Punishment: Saxon Power Structure
Power in Anglo-Saxon England came from land, loyalty, religion, and local community pressure.
What To Remember
- The king made laws and was believed to be chosen by God.
- Nobles owned land in return for loyalty, taxes, and military support.
- Peasants had little formal power, but village communities enforced much of the law.
The king
The king controlled the laws of the land and owned more land than anyone else.
People expected him to keep peace and justice, especially against serious threats to royal authority.
Crimes against the king's peace, such as treason, were treated very seriously.
Nobles and land
Nobles were the richest landowners below the king.
They supported the king, paid taxes, and supplied knights or armed men.
Because land meant wealth, nobles had much more influence than ordinary peasants.
Peasants and villages
Most people were peasant farmers who worked noble land and their own strips to survive.
Small villages created strong local pressure because everyone knew everyone else's behaviour.
This helped tithings and hue and cry work without a police force.
The Church
The Church taught that behaviour affected the soul in the afterlife.
It had its own laws and courts, and church buildings could offer sanctuary.
This meant religious authority could compete with royal authority in some cases.
Revision Prompt
Who had the most power in Anglo-Saxon England: the king, nobles, Church, or local communities?