The Royal Forests

What were the Royal Forests?

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.

How did William create the Royal Forests?

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

What laws covered the Royal Forests?

Numerous laws were created to protect William's hunting grounds and the animals in them.

• ❖ 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.

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.