Royal Forests Flashcards

1
Q

Who had the bigger demesne (land kept by the crown) William or Edward?

A

William kept a bigger area of land for himself (‘demesne’) than Edward the Confessor had previously. He turned a lot of land into the ‘Royal Forests’ - land reserved for hunting.

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2
Q

Why did William make the Royal Forests?

A

William created the Royal Forests because he really enjoyed hunting, particularly deer.

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3
Q

What laws covered the new Royal Forests?

A

❖Hunting on private land became a new crime, known as poaching.

❖Damage to the animals or vegetation was prohibited.

❖It was an offence to take weapons or dogs into the forest.

❖It was illegal for ordinary people to hurt the deer, even if the animals were damaging crops.

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4
Q

How did William create the Royal Forests?

A

William confiscated land from other land-holders, including the church, and evicted families from their homes.

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5
Q

Why were the Royal Forests important?

A

The Royal Forests were significant in a number of ways.

❖When William extended his area of land, he legitimised land-grabs being committed by other Normans and made them seem acceptable.

❖It showed the power of the king was greater than the existing law.

❖Harsh punishments for poaching demonstrated Norman ruthlessness.

❖The Anglo-Saxon population began to resent the forests.

❖The forest areas became another source of income for the king.

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