Medieval Britain 1066–1509, Year 11: the feudal system and Norman government (Norman England option)

A fief

HintThe word is a cousin of 'fee'.

The whyA vassal swore loyalty to his lord and owed service, often military; in return the lord protected him. Holding land on these terms was less secure than under the Anglo-Saxon kings: a man who failed in his duties could lose it.

The king

HintEven the greatest barons held their land on conditions.

The whyWilliam kept some land for himself and granted the rest to his followers, who held it from him in return for service. Landholding in Normandy was different: William was not the owner of all the land there.

homage

HintHe knelt and placed his hands between his lord's.

The whyHomage was followed by an oath of fealty. These promises were made before God as well as before the king, so breaking them damaged a man's reputation and his soul.

Knights (military service)

HintThink of the army William needed to keep order.

The whyTenants-in-chief were the large landholders, such as barons, bishops and abbots, who held directly from the king. They gave out land in turn to knights who served them.

That they swear loyalty directly to him

HintIt happened in the same year as the Domesday survey.

The whyThe Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that all the landholders of any account came to him there, became his men and swore to be faithful to him against all other men. Swearing to be faithful against all other men put loyalty to the king above loyalty to a man's own lord.

A heavy fine on the local hundred when a murdered Norman was found and the killer was not produced

HintIt was meant to protect the foreign newcomers from secret killings.

The whyThe idea was older, from Danish law, but the Normans revived it. Later it covered victims of any background, and it lasted until Edward III's reign.

The sheriff

HintThe job already existed under the Anglo-Saxon kings.

The whyHundred and shire courts stayed, but Normans took over as sheriffs; after 1075 Englishmen were only occasionally appointed to the post.

God's judgement on whether the accused was innocent or guilty

HintIt was not simply a punishment.

The whyOrdeals by fire and by water were used. The Normans kept the English ordeals and added one new form, trial by battle, where the two sides fought.

Hundred court

HintIt served a division of the shire.

The whyThe shire court dealt with more serious crimes and land disputes. Both courts survived the Conquest.

It already worked, and it helped him look like Edward the Confessor's lawful heir

HintThink how few Normans there were in a large kingdom.

The whyThe Normans were greatly outnumbered. William wanted most English people to believe he would rule as Edward had, so he relied heavily on English administration and law, adding Norman control at the top.