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Simple English definitions for legal terms
witenagemot
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A quick definition of witenagemot:
Term: Witenagemot
Definition: The Witenagemot was a group of important people in England who helped the king run the country a long time ago. It was made up of noblemen, religious leaders, and other important people chosen by the king. They gave advice and helped the king make decisions. It was like a big meeting of wise people. It stopped existing after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was important in the past, but it is not the same as the British Parliament we have today.
A more thorough explanation:
Witenagemot was a national assembly in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It was made up of noblemen, high-ranking church officials, and other important people who advised and helped the king with governing the country. The assembly's composition depended on the king's will. It ceased to exist after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Although it was a precursor to the British Parliament, today's Parliament is not a continuation of the Witenagemot.
Example: In the early period, the power of the Witenagemot was so great that the kings were dependent on appointment to that office by the Witan. However, with the centralization of power in the Alfredian line of kings in the tenth century, the power of the Witenagemot began to decline.