Events Tagged: "sheriff"

William the Conqueror retains shire reeve system - Normans call them 'sheriffs' (shire-reeve), expand their powers as direct royal agents

Sheriffs established as crown's counter to feudal lords - collect taxes directly for king even from lands granted to nobles, preventing alienation of royal revenues

Henry I's Charter of Liberties addresses sheriff abuses - promises to end sheriffs' extortions but maintains their role in protecting royal revenues from baronial grants

Exchequer system formalized - sheriffs must account twice yearly for all royal revenues from their shires, including from granted lands

Sheriff system breaks down during Anarchy - local strongmen usurp sheriff offices, royal revenue collection collapses

Henry II restores sheriff system - removes baronial sheriffs, appoints royal clerks, reasserts crown's right to revenues from all lands

Inquest of Sheriffs - Henry II investigates and dismisses corrupt sheriffs, replaces with professional administrators loyal only to crown