33:
960:
151:
470:
and came to dominate the east and southeast of the island. Based on archaeological evidence (such as burials and buildings), these early communities appear to have lacked any social elite. Around half the population were free, independent farmers (Old
English:
704:), king's thegns, and median thegns. Below ealdormen were king's thegns, so called because they only served the king. The lowest thegnly rank were the median thegns who owed service to other thegns. The higher a thegn's rank, the greater the
386:
suggests "the sense of subordination must have been inherent... from the earliest time". It gradually expanded in meaning and use, to denote a member of a territorial nobility, while thegnhood was attainable by fulfilling certain conditions.
412:
describes a thane as "one engaged in a king's or a queen's service, whether in the household or in the country". It adds: "the word... seems gradually to acquire a technical meaning... denoting a class, containing several degrees".
502:. These events would have caused famine and other societal disruptions that may have increased violence and led previously independent farmers to submit to the rule of strong lords. The Old English word for
985:
replaced the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy with
Normans, who replaced the previous terminology with their own names for such social ranks. Those previously known as thegns became part of the knightly class.
615:) and gifts of gold and silver. Young nobles were raised with the children of kings to someday become their gesith. A gesith might be granted an estate in reward for loyal service.
922:
894:(who in addition to religious duties would also have performed secretarial work). The will of a noblewoman named Leofgifu left land to her three stewards, two
494:
By the late 6th century, the archeological evidence (grander burials and buildings) suggests the development of a social elite. This period coincided with the
292:
1464:
1683:
918:
735:
they "seem to have acted as the judicial committee of the court for the purposes of accusation". This suggests some connection with the modern
1561:
1495:
1006:
96:) was an aristocrat who owned substantial land in one or more counties. Thanes ranked at the third level in lay society, below the king and
422:
929:, and stewards of king's thegns and ealdorman. These were considered honourable posts rather than servile positions. Vagn, the leader of
1432:
1626:
1577:
Select
Charters and Other Illustrations of English Constitutional History, from the Earliest Times to the Reign of Edward the First
285:
1411:
141:
1719:
786:, a seat and special office in the king’s hall, then was he henceforth entitled to the rights of a thegn." The legal text
1661:"Thegns in the Social Order of Anglo-Saxon England and Viking-Age Scandinavia: Outlines of a Methodological Reassessment"
1714:
1704:
1602:
595:
as the common term for a nobleman. There were both land-owning and landless gesiths. A landless gesith would serve as a
1709:
1393:
720:
495:
278:
32:
1403:
978:
1442:
1010:
408:
1612:
1549:
930:
800:) also included the five-hide qualification but added that the land had to be kept for three generations.
1660:
150:
1379:
982:
93:
1486:
Keynes, Simon (2014). "Thegn". In
Lapidge, Michael; Blair, John; Keynes, Simon; Scragg, Donald (eds.).
1026:
1005:. Approximately fifty of these note that the deceased was a thegn. Examples of such runestones include
926:
803:
Thegnhood was also attainable to the merchant who "fared thrice over the wide sea by his own means."
769:
732:
536:
356:
319:
499:
324:
44:
1537:
1053:
1018:
812:
728:
484:
877:). Thegnly wills can be used to reconstruct noble households. Thurstan Lustwine's will, written
727:
of Anglo-Saxon
England". Although their exact role is unclear, the twelve senior thegns of the
1675:
1622:
1597:
1557:
1491:
1428:
1407:
1014:
467:
158:
112:
951:). High ranking men such as Vagn would have formed the inner circle of the lord's household.
618:
By the 10th century, Anglo-Saxon society was divided into three main social classes: slaves,
1529:
1505:
1022:
459:
346:
120:
57:
895:
367:
328:
255:
221:
959:
762:
could become a landlord in his own right and aspire to thegnly rank. In the legal tract
36:
Ivory seal of Godwin, an unknown thegn – first half of eleventh century,
1645:
1571:
1520:(1955). "Gesiths and Thegns in Anglo-Saxon England from the Seventh to Tenth Century".
1475:
764:
747:
Children inherited thegnly status from their father, and a thegnly woman who married a
724:
488:
383:
371:
37:
1698:
1585:
1458:
938:
1533:
463:
421:
182:
1477:
The
Constitutional History of Medieval England from the English Settlement to 1485
731:
played a part in the development of the
English system of justice. Under a law of
607:
of a king, queen, or lord. In return, they were provided protection (Old
English:
17:
1649:
1616:
1575:
1446:
1422:
1397:
1383:
753:
retained her noble status. A successful thegn might hope to be promoted to earl.
963:
934:
716:
480:
446:
306:
115:
75:
1517:
1002:
736:
610:
186:
104:
refers to the tenure by which lands were held by a thane as well as the rank.
1679:
772:
of York (1002–1023) detailed the criteria for attaining thegnhood: "And if a
1490:(2nd ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell. pp. 459–461.
966:
860:
697:
602:
337:
207:
168:
97:
1100:
891:
679:
675:
225:
203:
125:
1038:
994:
712:
596:
451:
245:
212:
101:
1541:
366:), but more frequently in the charters. Apparently unconnected to the
998:
905:
845:
705:
265:
1651:
993:
During the later part of the tenth and in the eleventh centuries in
977:
In 1066, there were an estimated 5,000 thegns in
England. After the
542:
331:
973:
are marked in red, those using the junior position "drengr" in blue
715:
were drawn from this class, and thegns were required to attend the
1554:
The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400–1066
1048:
958:
584:
474:
420:
391:
235:
31:
1043:
909:
899:
885:
850:
818:
773:
757:
748:
701:
683:
665:
635:
619:
608:
590:
540:
507:
472:
309:
173:
129:
79:
711:
Thegns were the backbone of local government and the military.
124:
was a title given to local royal officials in medieval eastern
1001:, it became common for families or comrades to raise memorial
1618:
The World Before Domesday: The English Aristocracy, 900–1066
1457:
778:
prospered, that he possessed fully five hides of his own, a
60:
904:. Another household officer identified in wills is that of
63:
1654:. Vol. 1. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 149–158.
817:
A noble household included a number of retainers, termed
1250:
1248:
1235:
1233:
1119:
1117:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1488:
The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England
567:) to describe a nobleman. By the 8th century, the word
1172:
1170:
1168:
670:) meant servant or warrior, and it replaced the term
390:
The thane had a military significance, and its usual
66:
1474:
933:housecarls, owned 54 hides of land with his main
355:is only used once in the laws before the time of
719:and give judgment. For these reasons, historian
1668:Interdisciplinary and Comparative Methodologies
340:
286:
27:Medieval British and Scandinavian noble title
8:
1607:. Vol. 1. London: Eyre and Spottiswood.
1468:. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). p. 743.
376:
140:
1399:The Struggle for Mastery: Britain 1066–1284
600:
582:
401:
395:
1294:
1282:
1076:
483:of land (enough to provide for a family).
293:
279:
139:
1298:
1266:
1580:(8th ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
1481:(4th ed.). Adams and Charles Black.
1451:. Vol. 1. London: Methuen & Co.
1362:
1350:
1338:
1314:
1302:
1270:
1254:
1239:
1224:
1212:
1188:
1135:
128:, equivalent in rank to the child of an
1123:
1069:
1326:
1159:
1147:
1088:
696:Thegns were divided into three ranks:
318:
1103:A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic
7:
1200:
1176:
917:Just as king's thegns served in the
1385:Studies on Anglo-Saxon Institutions
1689:from the original on 30 June 2024.
1512:. Vol. 1. Halle: M. Niemeyer.
25:
323:, "man, attendant, retainer") is
1659:Sukhino-Khomenko, Denis (2019).
1456:Holland, Arthur William (1911).
149:
56:
1301:, no. 52(A), p. 432; quoted in
921:, lesser thegns served as the
118:for a class of retainers, and
1:
1522:The English Historical Review
1388:. Cambridge University Press.
878:
843:; from which the modern word
360:
1603:English Historical Documents
1534:10.1093/ehr/LXX.CCLXXVII.529
1510:Die Gesetze der Angelsachsen
400:, meaning soldier, although
1473:Jolliffe, J. E. A. (1961).
1427:(2nd ed.). Routledge.
496:Late Antique Little Ice Age
1736:
1443:Holdsworth, William Searle
1421:Huscroft, Richard (2016).
1404:Penguin History of Britain
979:Norman conquest of England
810:
795:law of the Northern People
491:, made up the other half.
1424:Ruling England, 1042-1217
723:described thegns as "the
539:use the Old English word
409:An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary
1448:A History of English Law
688:and 1,200s for a thegn.
1590:Encyclopedia Britannica
1465:Encyclopædia Britannica
1341:, pp. 63 & 66.
1269:, p. 66 quoted in
910:
900:
886:
851:
819:
774:
758:
749:
684:
674:. Law codes assigned a
666:
636:
620:
609:
591:
541:
508:
473:
341:
332:
310:
80:
1380:Chadwick, Hector Munro
974:
898:, a chaplain, and her
708:he paid to the king.
601:
583:
462:collectively known as
455:
402:
396:
377:
40:
1621:. London: Continuum.
983:William the Conqueror
962:
955:Post-conquest England
811:Further information:
424:
94:Shakespearean English
35:
1720:Viking Age in Sweden
1297:, pp. 456–458;
1101:Northvegr – Zoëga's
872:man of the household
678:or man price of 200
458:In the 5th century,
441:), the precursor of
239:(churl, free tenant)
1715:Anglo-Norse England
1705:Anglo-Saxon society
1091:, pp. 459–461.
1025:at Glavendrup, and
884:, left land to his
692:Ranks and functions
500:Plague of Justinian
479:) who cultivated a
145:
45:Anglo-Saxon England
1710:Anglo-Saxon thegns
1598:Whitelock, Dorothy
1054:Trinoda necessitas
975:
813:Medieval household
456:
349:, freeman, man").
320:[ˈθej(e)n]
142:Anglo-Saxon status
41:
18:King's Thanes
1563:978-1-64313-312-6
1556:. Pegasus Books.
1497:978-0-470-65632-7
1406:. Penguin Books.
1162:, pp. 50–55.
1150:, pp. 49–50.
1138:, pp. 84–85.
1013:at Norra Härene,
537:law codes of Kent
468:sub-Roman Britain
303:
302:
270:
260:
250:
240:
230:
216:
198:
177:
163:
111:was also used in
54:
16:(Redirected from
1727:
1690:
1688:
1665:
1655:
1632:
1608:
1593:
1581:
1567:
1545:
1528:(277): 529–549.
1513:
1501:
1482:
1480:
1469:
1461:
1452:
1438:
1417:
1394:Carpenter, David
1389:
1366:
1360:
1354:
1348:
1342:
1336:
1330:
1324:
1318:
1312:
1306:
1292:
1286:
1280:
1274:
1264:
1258:
1252:
1243:
1237:
1228:
1222:
1216:
1215:, p. 14–15.
1210:
1204:
1198:
1192:
1186:
1180:
1174:
1163:
1157:
1151:
1145:
1139:
1133:
1127:
1121:
1106:
1098:
1092:
1086:
1080:
1074:
950:
947:
944:
913:
903:
889:
883:
880:
876:
873:
870:
866:
863:
858:
854:
842:
839:
836:
832:
829:
826:
822:
799:
796:
793:
777:
761:
752:
687:
669:
659:
656:
653:
649:
646:
643:
639:
633:
630:
627:
623:
614:
606:
594:
588:
580:
577:
574:
566:
563:
560:
556:
553:
550:
546:
531:
528:
525:
521:
518:
515:
511:
487:, mostly native
478:
460:Germanic peoples
406:was often used.
405:
399:
394:translation was
380:
365:
362:
344:
335:
322:
317:
313:
295:
288:
281:
268:
258:
248:
238:
228:
210:
196:
171:
161:
153:
146:
83:
73:
72:
69:
68:
65:
62:
52:
21:
1735:
1734:
1730:
1729:
1728:
1726:
1725:
1724:
1695:
1694:
1693:
1686:
1663:
1658:
1646:Stubbs, William
1644:
1640:
1638:Further reading
1635:
1629:
1611:
1596:
1592:. 20 July 1998.
1584:
1572:Stubbs, William
1570:
1564:
1548:
1516:
1504:
1498:
1485:
1472:
1455:
1441:
1435:
1420:
1414:
1392:
1378:
1374:
1369:
1361:
1357:
1349:
1345:
1337:
1333:
1325:
1321:
1313:
1309:
1305:, pp. 2–3.
1295:Liebermann 1905
1293:
1289:
1283:Holdsworth 1903
1281:
1277:
1265:
1261:
1253:
1246:
1238:
1231:
1223:
1219:
1211:
1207:
1199:
1195:
1187:
1183:
1175:
1166:
1158:
1154:
1146:
1142:
1134:
1130:
1122:
1109:
1099:
1095:
1087:
1083:
1077:Britannica 1998
1075:
1071:
1067:
1062:
1035:
991:
957:
948:
945:
942:
919:royal household
881:
874:
871:
868:
864:
859:
856:
840:
837:
834:
830:
827:
824:
815:
809:
797:
794:
791:
745:
743:Social mobility
721:David Carpenter
694:
657:
654:
651:
647:
644:
641:
631:
628:
625:
589:) had replaced
578:
575:
572:
564:
561:
558:
554:
551:
548:
529:
526:
523:
519:
516:
513:
419:
363:
329:Old High German
315:
299:
269:(thrall, slave)
143:
138:
59:
55:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1733:
1731:
1723:
1722:
1717:
1712:
1707:
1697:
1696:
1692:
1691:
1656:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1634:
1633:
1627:
1609:
1600:, ed. (1955).
1594:
1582:
1568:
1562:
1546:
1514:
1506:Liebermann, F.
1502:
1496:
1483:
1470:
1453:
1439:
1434:978-1138786554
1433:
1418:
1412:
1390:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1367:
1355:
1343:
1331:
1319:
1307:
1299:Whitelock 1955
1287:
1275:
1267:Carpenter 2003
1259:
1244:
1229:
1217:
1205:
1203:, p. 532.
1193:
1181:
1179:, p. 530.
1164:
1152:
1140:
1128:
1126:, p. 743.
1107:
1093:
1081:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1057:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1034:
1031:
990:
987:
956:
953:
946:Vagn's Wootton
931:Earl Leofric's
808:
805:
788:Norðleoda laga
744:
741:
725:country gentry
693:
690:
664:(Old English:
445:, used in the
418:
415:
384:H. M. Chadwick
382:('to serve'),
364: 895–940
301:
300:
298:
297:
290:
283:
275:
272:
271:
262:
261:
252:
251:
242:
241:
232:
231:
218:
217:
200:
199:
190:
189:
179:
178:
165:
164:
155:
154:
137:
134:
113:early medieval
38:British Museum
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1732:
1721:
1718:
1716:
1713:
1711:
1708:
1706:
1703:
1702:
1700:
1685:
1681:
1677:
1673:
1669:
1662:
1657:
1653:
1652:
1647:
1643:
1642:
1637:
1630:
1628:9781847252395
1624:
1620:
1619:
1614:
1613:Williams, Ann
1610:
1606:
1604:
1599:
1595:
1591:
1587:
1583:
1579:
1578:
1573:
1569:
1565:
1559:
1555:
1551:
1547:
1543:
1539:
1535:
1531:
1527:
1523:
1519:
1515:
1511:
1507:
1503:
1499:
1493:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1478:
1471:
1467:
1466:
1460:
1459:"Thegn"
1454:
1450:
1449:
1444:
1440:
1436:
1430:
1426:
1425:
1419:
1415:
1409:
1405:
1401:
1400:
1395:
1391:
1387:
1386:
1381:
1377:
1376:
1371:
1365:, p. 29.
1364:
1363:Huscroft 2016
1359:
1356:
1353:, p. 67.
1352:
1351:Williams 2008
1347:
1344:
1340:
1339:Williams 2008
1335:
1332:
1329:, p. 65.
1328:
1323:
1320:
1316:
1315:Williams 2008
1311:
1308:
1304:
1303:Williams 2008
1300:
1296:
1291:
1288:
1284:
1279:
1276:
1273:, p. 28.
1272:
1271:Huscroft 2016
1268:
1263:
1260:
1256:
1255:Williams 2008
1251:
1249:
1245:
1241:
1240:Williams 2008
1236:
1234:
1230:
1226:
1225:Williams 2008
1221:
1218:
1214:
1213:Jolliffe 1961
1209:
1206:
1202:
1197:
1194:
1190:
1189:Williams 2008
1185:
1182:
1178:
1173:
1171:
1169:
1165:
1161:
1156:
1153:
1149:
1144:
1141:
1137:
1136:Chadwick 1905
1132:
1129:
1125:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1104:
1097:
1094:
1090:
1085:
1082:
1078:
1073:
1070:
1064:
1059:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1030:
1029:at Rydsgård.
1028:
1024:
1021:at Gunderup,
1020:
1016:
1012:
1009:at Nälberga,
1008:
1004:
1000:
996:
988:
986:
984:
980:
972:
968:
965:
961:
954:
952:
940:
939:Wootton Wawen
936:
932:
928:
924:
920:
915:
912:
907:
902:
897:
893:
888:
862:
853:
848:
847:
821:
814:
806:
804:
801:
789:
785:
781:
776:
771:
768:, Archbishop
767:
766:
760:
756:A prosperous
754:
751:
742:
740:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
718:
714:
709:
707:
703:
699:
691:
689:
686:
681:
677:
673:
668:
663:
638:
622:
616:
613:
612:
605:
604:
598:
593:
587:
586:
570:
545:
544:
538:
533:
517:loaf-guardian
510:
505:
501:
497:
492:
490:
486:
482:
477:
476:
469:
465:
461:
454:
453:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
423:
416:
414:
411:
410:
404:
398:
393:
388:
385:
381:
379:
373:
369:
358:
354:
350:
348:
343:
339:
334:
330:
326:
321:
312:
308:
296:
291:
289:
284:
282:
277:
276:
274:
273:
267:
264:
263:
257:
254:
253:
247:
244:
243:
237:
234:
233:
227:
223:
220:
219:
214:
209:
205:
202:
201:
195:
192:
191:
188:
184:
181:
180:
176:after c.1000)
175:
170:
167:
166:
160:
157:
156:
152:
148:
147:
144:
135:
133:
131:
127:
123:
122:
117:
114:
110:
105:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
82:
77:
71:
50:
46:
39:
34:
30:
19:
1671:
1667:
1650:
1617:
1601:
1589:
1576:
1553:
1550:Morris, Marc
1525:
1521:
1509:
1487:
1476:
1463:
1447:
1423:
1398:
1384:
1358:
1346:
1334:
1322:
1317:, p. 4.
1310:
1290:
1285:, p. 7.
1278:
1262:
1257:, p. 3.
1242:, p. 1.
1227:, p. 2.
1220:
1208:
1196:
1191:, p. 5.
1184:
1155:
1143:
1131:
1124:Holland 1911
1102:
1096:
1084:
1072:
1017:at Velanda,
992:
976:
970:
964:Scandinavian
927:chamberlains
916:
890:and his two
849:derives) or
844:
816:
802:
787:
783:
779:
763:
755:
746:
710:
695:
671:
661:
617:
568:
534:
503:
493:
466:migrated to
464:Anglo-Saxons
457:
450:
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
407:
389:
375:
352:
351:
304:
193:
119:
108:
106:
89:
85:
48:
42:
29:
1605:c. 500–1042
1327:Stubbs 1895
1160:Morris 2021
1148:Morris 2021
1089:Keynes 2014
882: 1043
717:shire court
655:aristocrats
527:bread-giver
447:Old English
307:Old English
116:Scandinavia
76:Old English
1699:Categories
1413:0140148248
1060:References
1003:runestones
989:Runestones
967:runestones
923:seneschals
807:Households
737:jury trial
535:The early
449:epic poem
357:Aethelstan
259:(cottager)
187:High-reeve
53:pronounced
1680:1799-4497
1674:: 25–50.
1201:Loyn 1955
1177:Loyn 1955
1065:Citations
981:in 1066,
892:chaplains
861:housecarl
828:young man
733:Aethelred
698:ealdormen
680:shillings
603:comitatus
581:; Latin:
576:companion
552:high born
425:The word
345:("thane,
338:Old Norse
229:(bailiff)
208:housecarl
169:Ealdorman
136:Etymology
107:The term
98:ealdormen
43:In later
1684:Archived
1648:(1874).
1615:(2008).
1574:(1895).
1552:(2021).
1518:Loyn, HR
1508:(1905).
1445:(1903).
1396:(2003).
1382:(1905).
1033:See also
906:huntsman
838:retainer
784:burhgeat
770:Wulfstan
765:Geþyncðo
713:Sheriffs
676:weregeld
629:free men
597:retainer
498:and the
435:gesithum
433:(plural
403:minister
347:franklin
226:Verderer
213:retainer
204:Thingmen
126:Scotland
1586:"Thane"
1372:Sources
1039:Abthain
995:Denmark
901:cnihtes
887:cnihtes
852:huscarl
729:hundred
700:(later
634:), and
621:ceorlas
599:in the
509:hlaford
489:Britons
475:ceorlas
452:Beowulf
439:gesiðum
417:Origins
325:cognate
311:þeġ(e)n
246:Villein
197:(thane)
102:Thanage
1678:
1625:
1560:
1542:558038
1540:
1494:
1431:
1410:
1027:DR 277
1023:DR 209
1019:DR 143
1015:Vg 150
1007:Sö 170
999:Sweden
971:thegns
896:reeves
846:knight
782:and a
780:belhus
706:heriot
682:for a
672:gesith
645:thegns
637:þegnas
569:gesith
485:Slaves
427:gesith
378:dienen
368:German
256:Cottar
249:(serf)
162:(king)
159:Cyning
1687:(PDF)
1664:(PDF)
1538:JSTOR
1049:Thain
1011:Vg 59
935:manor
911:hunta
820:cniht
775:ceorl
759:ceorl
750:ceorl
685:ceorl
662:Thegn
585:comes
562:noble
443:thegn
431:gesiþ
397:miles
392:Latin
374:word
372:Dutch
353:Thegn
333:degan
327:with
236:Ceorl
222:Reeve
194:Thegn
121:thane
109:thane
90:thayn
86:thane
84:) or
49:thegn
1676:ISSN
1623:ISBN
1558:ISBN
1492:ISBN
1429:ISBN
1408:ISBN
1044:Fyrd
997:and
702:earl
667:þeġn
611:mund
592:eorl
543:eorl
504:lord
481:hide
370:and
342:þegn
336:and
316:IPA:
305:The
266:Þēow
183:Hold
174:Earl
130:earl
88:(or
81:þeġn
47:, a
1530:doi
969:of
937:at
914:).
660:).
532:).
522:or
506:is
100:.
92:in
1701::
1682:.
1672:14
1670:.
1666:.
1588:.
1536:.
1526:70
1524:.
1462:.
1402:.
1247:^
1232:^
1167:^
1110:^
925:,
879:c.
867:,
833:,
739:.
650:,
557:,
361:c.
224:/
206:/
185:/
132:.
78::
74:;
64:eɪ
1631:.
1566:.
1544:.
1532::
1500:.
1437:.
1416:.
1079:.
949:'
943:'
941:(
908:(
875:'
869:'
865:'
857:'
855:(
841:'
835:'
831:'
825:'
823:(
798:'
792:'
790:(
658:'
652:'
648:'
642:'
640:(
632:'
626:'
624:(
579:'
573:'
571:(
565:'
559:'
555:'
549:'
547:(
530:'
524:'
520:'
514:'
512:(
437:/
429:/
359:(
314:(
294:e
287:t
280:v
215:)
211:(
172:(
70:/
67:n
61:θ
58:/
51:(
20:)
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