Earldoms, shires and local government Flashcards
(14 cards)
What were the primary responsibilities of earls?
Earls were responsible for keeping peace, exercising justice, raising armies, and protecting the stability of their land.
What limitations did earls face in their power?
Earls could not mint their own coins or hold their own courts, and their power was limited in legal and economic areas.
What were the main responsibilities of sheriffs?
Sheriffs were responsible for collecting taxes, dispensing justice, settling disputes in shire courts, and organizing armies in times of emergency.
What were some of the different earldoms in early England?
Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia.
What was the thegnly class in early England?
The thegnly class contained around 5000 landed gentry known as thegns, who were considered great men of the nation and advised the king.
How were shires subdivided in early England?
Shires were subdivided into units called hundreds, which contained a dozen or so villages.
What were hundreds used for in the administrative system?
Hundreds were used for administrative, military, and judicial purposes under common law.
Who administered the hundreds in early England?
Hundreds were administered by reeves.
What were vills in the context of shires?
Vills were smaller units below hundreds, also overseen by reeves.
What is the hierarchy of the feudal system from top to bottom?
The hierarchy is: God, King, Earls/Thegns, Ceorls, Peasants/Farmers, Slaves.
Where do earls and thegns rank in the feudal system hierarchy?
Earls and thegns occupy positions below the King.
What role did the thegns play in relation to the king?
Thegns provided support in advising the king.
What could a sheriff do in times of emergency?
A sheriff could organize and lead armies.
What was a key responsibility of earls regarding their territories?
A key responsibility was protecting the stability of their land.
