Thegn

Anglo Saxon thegn or thane was a noble who held his estate on the understanding that in times of war he would fight for the king, be an active member of the witan and undertake duties relating to local and central government. During the reign of the Danish kings the housecarl replaced many of the duties they originally undertook. Following the Norman invasion, the thegn's general affluence diminished due to the practice of splitting the estate between the sons following his death and Norman preferences for their own people.