Changes and Continuities in English Government after Norman Conquest

Includes changes in; Local Government, Wealth and Taxation, Castles, Chancery and Writs and the feudal system. Also, the significance of the Domesday book in 1086. continuities in pink, and changes in yellow

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  • Created by: ava.scott
  • Created on: 08-04-14 12:05
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  • Changes and Continuities after the Norman Conquest.
    • Castles
      • Advantages of Motte and Bailey
        • Made from easy resources to find- wood and earth.
          • cheap.
        • Surrounded by a moat for protection from attack.
        • Could survey the area, dominating it.
          • As these type of castles were almost entirley new, they really intimidated the public. Williams uaually put them amongst existing setlements, sohouses had to be destroyed. This was an act of suppression.
        • Housed a garrison so the area so soldiers were always available.
      • Disadvantages of Motte and Bailey
        • weak- easily burnt
          • small
        • easily surrounded and isolated.
    • Feudal System
      • King is top of the heirarchy.
      • All land OFFICIALLY belongs to the king.
        • Church has more land.
          • Thegns removed, replaces by Barons.
            • More people in power, as earldoms lapsed and split.
              • More trade with Northern France than Scandinavia.
        • everyone is a tenant.
    • Wealth and Taxation
      • continued to collect danegeld tax
        • kept the treasury at Winchester.
          • kept trade going with various countries e.g. flanders sweden
            • coinage systems and moneyers remained the same.
      • William added a few more mints at Durham, Ruddland and Cardiff.
        • drew profits from the justice system e.g. fines.
    • Chancery, Chancellor, and Writs
      • Under William II, Flambard was a very powerful clerk who became the head of the council by 1098.He was hated because he used excessive taxing to enrich his family. It shows how bureaucracy grew in the Norman reign, an and how much power certain people were given.
        • he was basically the first justiciar.
    • THE DOMESDAY BOOK
      • made to assess: the wealth of Williams new kingdom, help administration taxes, and to distribute wealth amongst Norman tenants-in-chief. Also to help raise troops.
      • shows us how towns went down in wealth whilst William was stabilising the country, but by 1086, the  country was picking up again in wealth.
    • The shire, sheriff and local goverment
      • England remained in shires
        • Sheriffs remained responsible for kings will and justice on shires.
          • Sheriffs key roles: manage royal estate; collect taxes; supervise justice
            • Shire courts meeting twice a year( earls and bishops) to discuss legal cases, taxation and military affairs.
              • Use of trials by ordeal-
                • although trial by combat became more common.
                • murdum fine- to protect normans in local areas.
  • quickly built with unskilled labour.
    • Advantages of Motte and Bailey
      • Made from easy resources to find- wood and earth.
        • cheap.
      • Surrounded by a moat for protection from attack.
      • Could survey the area, dominating it.
        • As these type of castles were almost entirley new, they really intimidated the public. Williams uaually put them amongst existing setlements, sohouses had to be destroyed. This was an act of suppression.
      • Housed a garrison so the area so soldiers were always available.
  • Oaths of loyalty to give land out.
    • Vassals obligated to fight for the King.
  • continued to collect danegeld tax
    • kept the treasury at Winchester.
      • kept trade going with various countries e.g. flanders sweden
        • coinage systems and moneyers remained the same.
  • The shire, sheriff and local goverment
    • England remained in shires
      • Sheriffs remained responsible for kings will and justice on shires.
        • Sheriffs key roles: manage royal estate; collect taxes; supervise justice
          • Shire courts meeting twice a year( earls and bishops) to discuss legal cases, taxation and military affairs.
            • Use of trials by ordeal-
              • although trial by combat became more common.
              • murdum fine- to protect normans in local areas.

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