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 |
| Cyning(sovereign) |
| Ætheling(prince) |
| Ealdorman(Earl) |
| Hold /High-reeve |
| Thegn |
| Thingmen /housecarl(retainer) |
| Reeve /Verderer(bailiff) |
| Churl(free tenant) |
| Villein(serf) |
| Cottar(cottager) |
| Þēow(slave) |
Ealdorman (/ˈɔːldərmən/AWL-dər-mənor/(eɪ)ˈældərmən/(ay-)AL-dər-mən,Old English:[ˈæɑɫdorˌmɑn])[1] was an office in thegovernment of Anglo-Saxon England. During the 11th century, it evolved into the title ofearl.
TheOld English wordealdorman was applied to high-ranking men. It was equated with severalLatin titles, includingprinceps,dux,comes, andpraefectus. The title could be applied to kings of weaker territories who had submitted to a greater power. For example, acharter of KingOffa of Mercia describedEaldred of Hwicce as "subregulus ...et dux ('underking and ealdorman')."[2]
InWessex, the king appointed ealdormen to lead individualshires.[2] UnderAlfred the Great (r. 871–899), there were nine or ten ealdormen. Each West Saxon shire had one, and Kent had two (one for East Kent and one for West Kent).[3]
In the 10th century, the kings of Wessex successfully unified England into one kingdom, and ealdormen became the local representatives of the monarch.[2] The ealdorman commanded the shire'sfyrd (army), co-presided with thebishop over theshire court, and enforced royal orders. He had a right to the "third penny": one-third of the income from the shire court and one-third of the revenue from tolls and dues levied in the boroughs. The king could remove ealdormen.[4][5]
Starting withEdward the Elder (r. 899–924), it became customary for one ealdorman to administer three or four shires together as an ealdormanry.[6] One ealdormanry covered Wessex east ofSelwood and another covered Wessex west of Selwood.[2] By 965, Mercia had four or five ealdormen and Northumbria only one.[7] The boundaries of the ealdormanries are unknown, and they may not have covered the entire kingdom. It is possible that the king kept some areas under his personal jurisdiction.[4]
In the 11th century, the termeorl, today'searl, replaced that of ealdorman, but this reflected a change in terminology under Danish influence rather than a change in function.[8]