Royal Forests Flashcards
Who had the bigger demesne (land kept by the crown) William or Edward?
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.
Why did William make the Royal Forests?
William created the Royal Forests because he really enjoyed hunting, particularly deer.
What laws covered the new Royal Forests?
❖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.
How did William create the Royal Forests?
William confiscated land from other land-holders, including the church, and evicted families from their homes.
Why were the Royal Forests important?
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.