History · Year 4 · The Making of England · Summer Term

Anglo-Saxon Justice and Law

Understanding the Tithing, the Witan, and the use of 'Wergild' in Anglo-Saxon legal systems.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS2: History - The Viking and Anglo-Saxon Struggle for England
• KS2: History - Anglo-Saxon Law and Order

About This Topic

Anglo-Saxon justice was based on the idea of community responsibility and preventing the 'blood feuds' that could tear a village apart. For Year 4 students, this topic introduces the 'Tithing' (a group of ten men responsible for each other's behaviour), the 'Witan' (the king's council of advisors), and the system of 'Wergild' (blood-money).

Students will explore how the Anglo-Saxons kept order without a professional police force. If someone committed a crime, the 'Hue and Cry' would be raised, and the whole village had to join the hunt for the criminal. This topic aligns with the KS2 History focus on 'Anglo-Saxon law and order'. It provides a fascinating comparison to our modern legal system. This topic particularly benefits from role plays and mock trials where students can apply Anglo-Saxon laws to specific cases.

Key Questions

1. Explain how the Anglo-Saxons maintained order without a modern police force.
2. Analyze the purpose of the 'Wergild' and how it prevented blood feuds.
3. Compare this early legal system to our modern laws, identifying similarities and differences.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the function of the Tithing system in maintaining Anglo-Saxon social order.
• Analyze the role of the Witan in advising the Anglo-Saxon king and making legal decisions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of 'Wergild' in preventing blood feuds and promoting community stability.
• Compare and contrast key features of Anglo-Saxon justice with modern legal practices in the UK.

Before You Start

Anglo-Saxon Settlements and Society

Why: Students need a basic understanding of how Anglo-Saxon society was structured, including the roles of kings and communities, to grasp the context of their legal systems.

Basic Concepts of Fairness and Rules

Why: Familiarity with the idea that rules are needed to prevent conflict and ensure fairness is foundational for understanding any legal system, including Anglo-Saxon law.

Key Vocabulary

Tithing	A group of ten men, usually neighbours, who were collectively responsible for each other's behaviour and appearance in court.
Witan	A council of advisors to the Anglo-Saxon king, consisting of powerful nobles and church leaders, who helped make important decisions.
Wergild	A monetary payment, or 'blood money', paid to the family of someone who had been killed or injured, to prevent further violence or feuds.
Hue and Cry	A public declaration of a crime that required all able-bodied people in the vicinity to stop what they were doing and join in pursuing the offender.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Anglo-Saxon laws were just about being mean and violent.

What to Teach Instead

The system of 'Wergild' was actually designed to *stop* violence by making people pay money instead of seeking revenge. Peer 'calculation' activities help students see the logic of 'compensation' over 'retribution'.

Common Misconception

The King made all the decisions alone.

What to Teach Instead

The King had to listen to the 'Witan', a council of powerful noblemen and bishops. Role-playing a Witan meeting helps students understand that even kings had to keep their powerful subjects happy.

Active Learning Ideas

Role Play: The Hue and Cry

One student 'steals' an item and runs. The teacher shouts 'Hue and Cry!', and the rest of the class must stop what they are doing to 'catch' the thief. They then discuss why this was an effective way to police a small village.

20 min·Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: Calculating Wergild

In small groups, students are given a 'price list' for different injuries (e.g., a lost thumb, a broken arm, a killed nobleman). They are given a crime scenario and must calculate how much 'Wergild' the offender's family must pay to the victim's family to prevent a feud.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Trial by Ordeal

Students learn about 'Trial by Hot Water' or 'Trial by Cake'. They pair up to discuss whether they think this was a fair way to decide if someone was guilty and why the Anglo-Saxons believed God would show them the truth.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Local community policing initiatives, like neighbourhood watch schemes, share the principle of collective responsibility for safety that was central to the Tithing system.
• The concept of restorative justice, which aims to repair harm and build community, echoes the Anglo-Saxon goal of preventing blood feuds through compensation like Wergild.
• Historical reenactment societies, such as those participating in events at places like the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, bring Anglo-Saxon legal practices to life for the public.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Give students three scenarios: one involving a minor theft, one a serious injury, and one a death. Ask them to write one sentence for each explaining how the Tithing, Wergild, or Hue and Cry might have been used to address it.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are an Anglo-Saxon villager. Would you rather have a Tithing system or a modern police force? Explain your choice, referencing at least two Anglo-Saxon legal concepts discussed.'

Quick Check

Display images of a Tithing group, the Witan, and a symbolic representation of Wergild. Ask students to write the correct term next to each image and provide one key fact about its function in Anglo-Saxon society.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was 'Wergild'?

Wergild literally means 'man-price'. It was a system where every person had a specific value in money based on their social status. If someone was killed or injured, the attacker's family had to pay that amount to the victim's family to 'settle the debt' and prevent a cycle of revenge killings.

How did a 'Trial by Ordeal' work?

If a jury couldn't decide if someone was guilty, they would ask God to decide. In a 'Trial by Hot Water', the accused had to pick a stone out of boiling water. If their hand healed cleanly after three days, they were innocent. If it was infected, they were guilty. They truly believed God would perform a miracle for the innocent.

How can active learning help students understand ancient justice?

By participating in a 'Hue and Cry' or calculating 'Wergild', students experience the 'community' aspect of Saxon law. It helps them understand that in a world without police, everyone had to be a part of keeping the peace. It makes the 'weird' laws of the past feel like practical solutions to the problems of that time.

What was the 'Witan'?

The Witan was a group of the most important people in the country, bishops, earls, and the king's advisors. They met several times a year to advise the king on new laws, taxes, and war. Most importantly, when a king died, the Witan had the power to choose who the next king should be.