Assize of Northampton facts for kids

The Assize of Northampton was an important set of rules made by King Henry II of England in January 1176. It was largely based on an earlier set of laws called the Assize of Clarendon from 1166. These new rules helped to make sure that knights who held land had their rights protected. They also made sure that owning land was guaranteed by the king's law. This meant the king had more control over the land and its owners.

What the Assize of Northampton Did

The Assize of Northampton added to the laws from the Assize of Clarendon. It listed more crimes that a special group of people, called a jury of presentment, had to report. These new crimes included setting things on fire (arson) and making fake documents (forgery). The Assize also set out very serious punishments for those found guilty.

After a Big Revolt

This new law came after a major uprising against King Henry II between 1173 and 1174, known as the Revolt of 1173–74. To make sure people were loyal, the Assize of Northampton included a wide-ranging oath of loyalty that everyone had to swear to the king. It also dealt with castles, especially making sure that any castles that had been destroyed during the revolt were completely torn down. This helped the king keep control and prevent future rebellions.

Changes to How Justice Worked

The Assize of Northampton also changed how the king's traveling judges worked. It gave instructions for six groups of judges who would travel around the country. These judges were called "itinerant justices." Local officials, like bailiffs and sheriffs, had to report how much money they collected. They were also given the power to catch thieves.

A very important part of the Assize was that it gave the king the right to have certain legal cases heard in his own royal court. This made the king's court much more powerful.

The Assize of Northampton was also the first official paper to talk about "seisin" and "disseisin." These terms are about who legally owns land and who might have lost it. It helped set the stage for later laws about land ownership, like mort d'ancestor and novel disseisin.

More Money for the King

After the Assize of Northampton, the king's income (called Crown revenue) went up a lot. This happened because the traveling judges were very busy. As historian G. M. Trevelyan said, "The Justices were quite as busy collecting the King's revenues as enforcing the King's peace." This shows that the judges helped both to keep order and to bring in money for the king.

See also

• Assize of darrein presentment
• Inquest of Sheriffs