R. R. Davies
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199542918
- eISBN:
- 9780191715648
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199542918.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History
The geographical fragmentation of lordship in England distinguished it from much of the rest of the British Isles and posed managerial problems that lords met successfully — a success downplayed by ...
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The geographical fragmentation of lordship in England distinguished it from much of the rest of the British Isles and posed managerial problems that lords met successfully — a success downplayed by historians who have concentrated on royal power. The nature of lordship was affected by profound changes in seigniorial government which made it more intensive and intrusive. Lords separated the traditional financial offices of their household, the chamber and wardrobe, from offices of estate management such as those of chief steward, receiver-general, and auditor, with these latter posts being filled by men of local standing. They sat on the lord's council, thus replicating the pattern of royal government, and there was an exchange of personnel between the councils of kings and lords. At the local level the lord used letters, regular audits, and personal visits to ensure effective management.Less
The geographical fragmentation of lordship in England distinguished it from much of the rest of the British Isles and posed managerial problems that lords met successfully — a success downplayed by historians who have concentrated on royal power. The nature of lordship was affected by profound changes in seigniorial government which made it more intensive and intrusive. Lords separated the traditional financial offices of their household, the chamber and wardrobe, from offices of estate management such as those of chief steward, receiver-general, and auditor, with these latter posts being filled by men of local standing. They sat on the lord's council, thus replicating the pattern of royal government, and there was an exchange of personnel between the councils of kings and lords. At the local level the lord used letters, regular audits, and personal visits to ensure effective management.
Alice Taylor
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198749202
- eISBN:
- 9780191813399
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198749202.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History
This chapter examines how and from what sources kings collected their revenue in order to understand the institutional form of royal government, and the relationship between ‘central’ and ‘local’ ...
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This chapter examines how and from what sources kings collected their revenue in order to understand the institutional form of royal government, and the relationship between ‘central’ and ‘local’ government. It argues that ‘central’ audits had developed by the early thirteenth century at the latest. But these audits were held at different places and not all officials had to attend them every year. Auditing was regionally focused, as was mint production. In addition, local episcopal and religious centres received a standard cut of the king’s income from all the revenue the king received through his sheriff. The sheriffdom stands out in this analysis as the key unit of government writ large; the ‘central’ justice and finance system had little institutional existence separate from the local sheriffdom. Scottish royal government was inherently localized in the area covered by sheriffdoms during the thirteenth century.Less
This chapter examines how and from what sources kings collected their revenue in order to understand the institutional form of royal government, and the relationship between ‘central’ and ‘local’ government. It argues that ‘central’ audits had developed by the early thirteenth century at the latest. But these audits were held at different places and not all officials had to attend them every year. Auditing was regionally focused, as was mint production. In addition, local episcopal and religious centres received a standard cut of the king’s income from all the revenue the king received through his sheriff. The sheriffdom stands out in this analysis as the key unit of government writ large; the ‘central’ justice and finance system had little institutional existence separate from the local sheriffdom. Scottish royal government was inherently localized in the area covered by sheriffdoms during the thirteenth century.
