2.2 + 2.3 Anglo Saxon Justice Flashcards
What were different types of crimes in Anglo Saxon England ?
- theft
- excessive drinking
- murder
- ploughing someone else’s land
What were the two main types of trials
Trial by ordeal
Trial by jury
How were tithings used to enforce the law
Each man over the age of 12 had to belong to a group of 10 men
They were responsible for keeping eachother out of trouble
If one of them broke the law they all had to make sure that he went to court
What was the hue and cry? How was it used to enforce the law?
- everyone in the village had to stop what they were doing and help look for the criminals or the whole village would have to pay a fine
What was trial by local jury
The jury was made up of men from the village who knew both the accuser and the accused
The jury had to decide who they thought was telling the truth
The jury would swear an oath (compurgation) that the person was guilty
What was trial by ordeal? What were the different methods of trial by ordeal?
If a local jury could not decide if a person was guilty of innocent, they used trial by ordeal as they thought god would help them reveal if the person was guilty or not
Trial by hot iron
- usually taken by women
They had to hold a red hot weight
If the wound healed cleanly they were innocent
if it was festering then they were guilty
Trial by hot water
- placed hand into hot water to pick up an object
Innocence and guilt decided same as above
Trial by cold water
- if the accused sank in water they were innocent
- if they floated, then they were guilty
Trial by blessed bread
- taken by priests
- would choke on bread if guilty
What was wergild payment? When was it used
- this is compensation paid to the victims of the crime or their families
- the amount paid depended on the crime
How were capital and corporal punishment used?
Death penalty :
- serious crimes like treason or betrayal against the king
- deterrence
Corporal punishment
- only for regular offenders
- deterrence
