Events Tagged: "Anglo-Saxon"

Ine of Wessex codifies hide system - establishes 'hide' as standard land unit (120 acres, enough to support one family), basis for taxation and military service

Ine's laws define thegn status - nobleman holding 5 hides of land, owes military service, wergild (man-price) of 1200 shillings vs 200 for ceorl

Laws establish ceorl rights - free peasant owning his own land (typically 1 hide), can bear arms, attend folk-moot, but lower wergild than thegn

Bede describes shire system - 'scir' means share or division, originally divisions of kingdoms, each with own folk-moot court

Alfred the Great reorganizes shire system - establishes shire reeves (scir-gerefa) as royal officials to oversee justice and tax collection in each shire

Alfred establishes hundred courts - subdivisions of shires with reeves presiding over local justice and collecting royal dues

Edward the Confessor restores Anglo-Saxon rule - son of Ethelred returns from Norman exile, ends Danish dynasty