Inheritance and Power in Norman Society Flashcards

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In Norman England, what does the word 'inheritance' mean?

Inheritance is when land, titles or wealth are passed from a person who has died to their heir, usually a family member.

What is primogeniture, which the Normans brought into England?

Primogeniture is the rule that the eldest son inherits all or most of his father’s land and titles.

How was Anglo-Saxon inheritance different from Norman primogeniture?

Anglo-Saxon land was often shared between several sons or relatives, but under Norman primogeniture the eldest son usually got almost everything.

Why did primogeniture help Norman noble families keep their power?

Primogeniture kept large estates together instead of splitting them up, so noble families stayed rich and powerful over many generations.

In Norman England, what was a 'relief' and who had to pay it?

A relief was a payment an heir had to give to their lord, often the king, before they were allowed to inherit the land.

How did reliefs increase the king’s power over his barons?

The king could charge high reliefs or refuse them, so he could reward loyal barons and punish or weaken those he did not trust.

What was 'wardship' in Norman society?

Wardship was when the king or a lord took control of the land of a dead noble whose heir was still a child, and kept the profits until the heir grew up.

What was 'forfeiture' and how did it affect a baron’s power?

Forfeiture was when a baron lost his land to the king for crimes like rebellion, which cut his wealth and power and warned others not to resist.

How were marriages used to gain land and power in Norman England?

Marriages were arranged to join families, so a husband or wife could gain land, allies and higher status through their partner.

What role could noblewomen play in landholding and power under the Normans?

Noblewomen could inherit land if there was no son, manage estates while husbands were away, and pass land and titles to their children.

How did William I divide his lands between his sons in 1087?

When William I died, he left Normandy to his eldest son Robert Curthose and England to his second son William Rufus, splitting his rule in two.

Why did William I’s split inheritance cause problems for Norman barons?

Many barons had land in both England and Normandy, so they had to choose which brother to support, which led to tension and rebellions.

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