Norman England, Crime and Punishment

Mundrum fine was a change made by the Normans, in which fines for crimes committed were paid to the King, whereas before the fine was paid to the victim. This change was made in order for a new King to gain and keep control to a foreign country with a different population accustom to different beliefs and cultures. This was done by money and wealth going to the King, and therefore giving William the conqueror more power over his population.

Forest laws were put place in order to stop poaching and the cutting down off trees. This was introduced in the Norman period partly because of William the Conquer love for hutting, and the Forest Laws meant that the forests were full of wildlife and hunting stock. This helped with William’s appearance because when a King returned with lots of livestock to shows the public that he was a successful king who was a great warrior and fighter. This is significant as it meant the population believed that the King was able to protect them despite him being an invader. But it also was another way in which the King could control his population and therefore increases his power over his people, to minimise rebellion.

Trial by Ordeal was a religious test where the accused would either be proven guilty or innocent, through the act of God saving them if they are innocent. This was because the Normans were also as religious as the Saxons, and changing religion would prove too dictatorial to the British people. However, in 1215 Trial by Ordeal was abolished. Possibly the Trial by Ordeal was only kept in order not to panic the public into think that their life’s where beginning dramatically changed into something they didn’t want. As that could have led to a rebellion or attempted to overthrow. The removal of Trial by Ordeal could have been seen as a power siege or an attempted to weaken the power from the Church that was already gaining more and more power against the King.

Trial by combat was based on the same principles of the trial by Ordeals, by focused on the combat of the accuser and the one accusing. This was a change added because the Normans were religious as well as the Saxons. But it was based on the premises of fighting skill; this was significance because the Normans were a warrior nation which referenced old Norman custom. But it also inspired fighting skills and spirt which help developed armies into fierce and effective forces.

Juries decided if the accused was guilty. If they couldn’t decide then Trial by Ordeal was used to let God decide. There were royal courts with royal judges who travelled the country in circuit who tried serious cases and manor courts for others. Continuities were the use of trial by jury, trial by ordeal (even though some were abolished) and Crown/Royal courts. But the Normans introduced Royal judges and scribes who were people who documented all cases. A corner was also added who dealt with unnatural deaths. But Church court where presented which answered moral and religious conflict.

During this period of time, there was no official police force. Crime prevention was dependent on a strong sense of community which encouraged people to keep to the law (hue and cry and tithings). But the Normans also continued with the Saxon trial by jury, which is similar to the system used today. But local constables were introduced who were reasonable to control the crime in a village, but they were not official payed jobs and only accompanied the individuals other job. 

Occasionally, whole areas rebelled against the Norman. But William dealt with it harshly. In 1069 the people of York rebelled. William sent his army to devastate the area; thousands of innocent people were murdered along with rebels. Corpses lay rotting in the streets, villages and fields of crops were burnt down. These extreme responses to rebellion were used to deter others from doing the same, but to make sure Britain were loyal and obeyed King William.

The Church had a lot of influence because everyone was expected to go to Church, because it was supposedly the centre of their life. Many people couldn’t read so going to Church every Sunday allowed them to get news from the village. The biggest building in the town or village was always the Church, a Catholic Church because everyone was Catholic in that day. Due to not that many people being able to read the dooms day painting was produced in order to explain to others the horrors oh hell and the joys of heaven. The Church had influence over the Law through Church courts, Benefit of the Clergy, Trial by Ordeal and Sanctuary.

Church courts: The Church claimed the right to try any church man committed of a crime in its own courts. This would be presided over by a local bishop. Unlike ordinary courts, Church courts never sentenced people to death, no matter how serious the crime.

Benefit of the Clergy: Benefit of the Clergy was when an accused person claimed the right to be tried in the more lenient Church courts.

Sanctuary: If someone was running form the law, they could claim sanctuary form the church if they are one their property. This meant that the person could reap the benefits of the Benefit of the Clergy.

The Normans had ended Wergild and fines were paid to the King, as his peace had been broken. Meaning Normans believed that any crimes committed were committed against the King. Serious crimes and reoffenders were punished by death. Those who did not attend court were outlawed. Continuities were for the punishment of minor crimes the punishment stayed the same- fines and public humiliation. However the Normans changed the punishment system introducing more executions. But you could also be pardoned by the King if you had a lot of money or you were needed in the army. This meant that the King was fitted as an all-powerful control supreme to that of punishments because the King was the one that created the laws and executed them. But punishments were also made harsher in order to improve power and control.

Key words that symbolise the Norman period of time:

Retribution- revenge to satisfy the victims or family.

Deterrence- to warn others not to commit the same crime.

Compensation- the victim or society is paid back for the trouble caused by the criminal.