Henry I And Henry II
Under the rule of William’s son, Henry I and the subsequent rule of his great grandson Henry II, the authority of the English monarchy was further strengthened.
Henry I setup a system of royal courts to judge the people who were accused of crimes, and to settle disputes between individuals. Henry II established a set of common laws, which applied throughout the kingdom.
This was an important accomplishment. Prior to this time, laws were different from manor to manor, and depended on individual lords. Now, under the rule of Henry II, laws were unified throughout his kingdom.
Henry II also established the practice of trial by jury, and an attempt to make sure that the guilty were punished, while the innocent went free.
