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Landownership from Anglo-Saxon to Norman (How was land lost (Forfeit -…
Landownership from Anglo-Saxon to Norman
landholding Revoltuion
quarter with church
5% Anglo Saxon land
of half held by 190 tenants in shief
land of tenant in chief was in the hands of 11 men e.g William FitzObern (Williams relatives and Loyal followers
20% king land
How was land lost
Forfeit - William owned all land, signs of resistance meant your land was taken from you and given to Normans
New Earldoms - blocks of forfeited land made new Earldoms to defend against trouble e.g. Marcher earldoms (put land in more useful blocks)
William took land from Rebels and gave it to loyal followers (but not too much). thegns in England no longer a threat as they became dependant on Normans as they didn't have much land anymore
Land Grabs - Illegal, norman sheriffs were known for corrupt land deals
Land seizures - victims of land seizures could appeal to get their land back. But William only allowed this in areas with low threat of resistance
Changes in Landholding after 1071
before 1071 anglo saxon land was passed to Normans and land was scattered. After 1071 William made blocks of land which were easier to control. He created places like the castlery and lordship of Richmond
before 1071 William stuck to traditional laws but after he replaced them with practical ways of keeping control
changes in how land was held
Anglo saxon
Bookland - lords granted followers land. This could be passed or sold
failed to pay tax - land could be taken away
Leases - loaned for set period of time
when a new thegn took over land they had to pay tax to king
Norman
William owned all land - tenure (holding land) wasn't as secure as it relied on Williams opinion
redeeming - people had to pay William for the right to keep their own land. those who didn't redeem, land was passed to Normans.
Heirs of land had to pay take to claim it
tenants in chief
those who stayed had to be obedient of they wanted to survive
new system started revolts but supressed power of people meaning the revolts were easily stopped
thegns were no less independent and many fled to be soldiers in Europe
they could reallocate land when a thegn died, give land to followers by making them heirs and dispose of thegns
changes for peasants
Coerls leased land from lords now so the number of them declined. Lords made them work for them so they lost independence
peasants had to farm land, so life was harder with tenants in cheif as they wanted more revenue