Changes to Landholding Under the Normans

How did landholding change under the Normans?

The Normans introduced changes to landholding, including the way that land could be given out, the duties associated with holding it, and how secure and reliable it was.

How did landholding work under the Anglo-Saxons before the Normans changed them?

There were different types of tenure under the Anglo-Saxons.

• ❖ Bookland was when the lords granted the right to land to their followers, which was represented by a charter. This could be passed on to heirs or sold.
• ❖ Leases were when land was loaned to someone in return for money for a set amount of time.
• ❖ All landowners had to provide one fyrdman for every five hides, and pay geld tax.
• ❖ A tax was due to the lord when a new landholder inherited land from a dead one.

How did William I change landholding in Norman England?

There were some similarities, but some significant differences to landholding under the Normans.

• ❖ The king owned all the land, and this over-rode any previous agreements.
• ❖ Anglo-Saxons had to pay William money for the right to carry on using their land.
• ❖ Land granted by William to his followers did not need money to redeem. However, if they died without an heir then the land went back to the king. Any heirs had to pay a 'relief' (tax) to the king on inheriting their land.

Why did William change landholding in Norman England?

William had a number of reasons for changing methods of landholding in England.

• ❖ It gave him more control. Anyone who disobeyed him could be left without land.
• ❖ It earned him money, through the relief paid to redeem and inherit land.
• ❖ It made tenure less safe, which meant that tenants were more dependent on their lords and therefore less likely to rebel.

How much power did the tenants-in-chief have over landholding in Norman England?

The tenants-in-chief were extremely powerful in Norman England, and had firm control over land ownership in their areas.

• ❖ They became the lords of the thegns in the area.
• ❖ They could reallocate land if a thegn died.
• ❖ They could make their supporters 'heirs' to a thegn's land.
• ❖ They could take land away from anyone who acted against them.

How did landholding change things for the peasants in Norman England?

There were fewer ceorls (freemen) in Norman England, as the Norman lords increased rents which they could not afford. Many freemen therefore became un-free villeins.