Power in Anglo-Saxon Society

Who held the power in Anglo-Saxon society?

Power in Anglo-Saxon was distributed through the hierarchy, with the most wealthy and important people at the top of society holding the most power and land.

What powers did the Anglo-Saxon kings have?

More than anything else, Anglo-Saxon kings needed a strong military force and a good army to maintain power.

• ❖ A reputation as a good warrior, and a history of winning battles, helped the king to maintain his power.
• ❖ Anglo-Saxons also respected a king who was an effective lawmaker and maintained the King's Peace.
• ❖ Kings could also earn respect by being pious and religious.

What limits were there on the king's power in Anglo-Saxon England?

Kings of England faced two main problems in maintaining control over the country.

• ❖ Half of the country was run by Anglo-Danes, who were descended from the Viking invaders. They used 'Danelaw' in their areas, and preferred to rule themselves locally.
• ❖ Very powerful earls could present a problem. By 1060, some earls in England were so strong that they held more military power than the king.

What power did earls have in Anglo-Saxon England?

Earldoms were originally created after 1016 by the Viking King Cnut for his followers. However, they were soon passed on to important and trustworthy Anglo-Saxons.

• ❖ They collected taxes for the king, but were allowed to keep a third of all the money.
• ❖ They were supposed to use their wealth and power to maintain good order in their earldom.
• ❖ They oversaw law enforcement in their areas.
• ❖ They were lords to hundreds of thegns, and therefore had great military power.
• ❖ They kept small, private, highly-trained armies of housecarls for protection.

What limits were there on the earls' powers in Anglo-Saxon England?

Earls had a lot of economic, military and legal power, but their position was dependent on the king and their thegns.

• ❖ Earls had more power with a weak king on the throne, and were able to influence his decisions.
• ❖ A strong king demanded obedience and punished earls who disobeyed him.
• ❖ Thegns could demand that an earl should be demoted if they disliked the way that he ran their area.

What was the Witan in Anglo-Saxon England?

The Witan was the Anglo-Saxon government. It was a council made up of the most important men, and advised the king. The king appointed the Witan and decided when it should meet.

What did the Witan do in Anglo-Saxon England?

The Witan had 4 important roles.

• ❖ It advised the king on foreign threats and of possible wars.
• ❖ It discussed religious issues.
• ❖ It reached judgements in arguments about land.
• ❖ It played a role in choosing the new king.

What power did the shire reeve have in Anglo-Saxon England?

The shire reeve was the king's local official and represented his interests in his areas. Shire reeves later became known as sheriffs.

• ❖ They collected the geld tax on land that went directly to the king.
• ❖ They collected revenues from the king's own land.
• ❖ They collected fines from the shire court.
• ❖ They enforced the law in the shire.
• ❖ They oversaw the upkeep of roads and defences.
• ❖ They were responsible for providing men for the fyrd.