If landholders went against the king, what could happen to their land?

Study for the Anglo-Saxon and Norman England Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Ensure your success on the exam!

Multiple Choice

If landholders went against the king, what could happen to their land?

Explanation:
Loyalty to the king determined who actually owned land in medieval England. If landholders openly opposed the king, the crown could seize their lands—this is known as forfeiture. Forfeiture means losing possession of property as a punishment for disloyalty, with the land often passing to the king or to trusted supporters, not staying with heirs by default, nor automatically going to the church. So the consequence of opposing the king would most commonly be that the land is forfeited to the crown.

Loyalty to the king determined who actually owned land in medieval England. If landholders openly opposed the king, the crown could seize their lands—this is known as forfeiture. Forfeiture means losing possession of property as a punishment for disloyalty, with the land often passing to the king or to trusted supporters, not staying with heirs by default, nor automatically going to the church. So the consequence of opposing the king would most commonly be that the land is forfeited to the crown.

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