Ealdorman
Encyclopedia
An ealdorman is the term used for a high-ranking royal official and prior magistrate of an Anglo-Saxon
shire
or group of shires from about the ninth century to the time of King Cnut. The term ealdorman was rendered in Latin
as dux
in early West Saxon charters, and as præfectus
(which confusingly, is also the equivalent of gerefa, modern reeve
, from which sheriff
or shire
reeve is derived). In the Life of King Alfred by the Welsh bishop Asser
, the Latin equivalent is comes. As the chief magistrate of a shire or group of shires (county
) in Anglo-Saxon England
, he commanded the army of the shire(s) and districts under his control on behalf of the king.
, lit. "companion") and many, especially in the early Danish period, were new to high office. The office was not hereditary, but there are several examples of tenth-century ealdormen whose sons became ealdormen (if not always of the same district), such as Æthelstan Half-King
and Æthelweard the Chronicler.
. The analogous term is sometimes count
, from the French
comte
, derived from the Latin comes. The ealdormen can be thought of as the early English earls, for their ealdormanries (singular ealdormanry, same meaning as earldom) eventually became the great earldoms of Anglo-Danish and Anglo-Norman England.
An ealdormancy was an Anglo-Saxon governing body over several shires, made up of more than one ealdorman.
. This term, however, developed distinct meanings which have little to do with ealdormen.
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
or group of shires from about the ninth century to the time of King Cnut. The term ealdorman was rendered in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
as dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
in early West Saxon charters, and as præfectus
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
(which confusingly, is also the equivalent of gerefa, modern reeve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
, from which sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
or shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
reeve is derived). In the Life of King Alfred by the Welsh bishop Asser
Asser
Asser was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court...
, the Latin equivalent is comes. As the chief magistrate of a shire or group of shires (county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
) in Anglo-Saxon England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he commanded the army of the shire(s) and districts under his control on behalf of the king.
Appointment
They were appointees of the king and were originally mostly from the ancient and powerful families, but later were often chosen from among the king's comites (plural of comesComes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
, lit. "companion") and many, especially in the early Danish period, were new to high office. The office was not hereditary, but there are several examples of tenth-century ealdormen whose sons became ealdormen (if not always of the same district), such as Æthelstan Half-King
Æthelstan Half-King
Æthelstan , commonly called Æthelstan Half-King, was Ealdorman of East Anglia and the leading member of a very prominent Anglo-Saxon family. Æthelstan became a monk at Glastonbury Abbey in 957.-Origins and career:...
and Æthelweard the Chronicler.
Earls
Towards the end of the tenth century, the term ealdorman gradually disappeared as it gave way to eorl, probably under the influence of the Danish term jarl, which evolved into modern English earlEarl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
. The analogous term is sometimes count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
, from the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
comte
Comte
Comte is a title of Catalan, Occitan and French nobility. In the English language, the title is equivalent to count, a rank in several European nobilities. The corresponding rank in England is earl...
, derived from the Latin comes. The ealdormen can be thought of as the early English earls, for their ealdormanries (singular ealdormanry, same meaning as earldom) eventually became the great earldoms of Anglo-Danish and Anglo-Norman England.
An ealdormancy was an Anglo-Saxon governing body over several shires, made up of more than one ealdorman.
Aldermen
Although earls may be regarded as the successors of ealdormen, the word ealdorman itself did not disappear and survives in modern times as aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. This term, however, developed distinct meanings which have little to do with ealdormen.
Historical
- Æthelmund, Ealdorman of the HwicceÆthelmundÆthelmund, an Anglo-Saxon noble, was Ealdorman of Hwicce in the late 8th century, perhaps living into the early 9th century. Æthelmund's predecessors had been kings, but he was a subject of the king of Mercia....
- Ælfhere, ealdorman of MerciaÆlfhere, Ealdorman of MerciaÆlfhere was ealdorman of Mercia. His family, along with those of Æthelstan Half-King and Æthelstan Rota, rose to greatness in the middle third of the 10th century. In the reign of Edward the Martyr, Ælfhere was a leader of the anti-monastic reaction and an ally of Edward's stepmother Queen Dowager...
(d. 983) - Ælfhelm, ealdorman of southern Northumbria (d. c. 1006)
- Ælfric, ealdorman of HampshireÆlfric of HampshireÆlfric of Hampshire was a late 10th century Anglo-Saxon ealdorman of Hampshire. He is most famous for having informed an invading Viking army in 992 that they were to be entrapped at sea....
- Æthelweard the Chronicler
- Byrhtnoth, ealdorman of EssexByrhtnothByrhtnoth was a 10th century Ealdorman of Essex. His name is composed of Old English beorht and noth ....
(d. 991) - Eadric Streona, ealdorman of the Saxon MerciansEadric StreonaEadric Streona was an ealdorman of the English Mercians. His name a loose translation of the Anglo-Saxon "the Grasper." Streona is historically regarded as the greatest traitor of the Anglo-Saxon period in English history....
(d. 1017) - Wulfstan, ealdorman of WiltshireWulfstan, ealdorman of WiltshireWulfstan, ealdorman of Wiltshire or Weohstan, , a leader of Wessex who ruled Wiltshire as Ealdorman under Cynewulf and Beorhtric...
(d.802)
Fictional
- Uhtred of BebbanburgUhtred of BebbanburgUhtred of Bebbanburg is the protagonist and main character of the best selling Saxon Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell. Over the five current books, Uhtred, a Pagan, has become increasingly complex in his loyalty and general attitude...
, hero of The Saxon StoriesThe Saxon StoriesThe Saxon Tales is a continuing historical novel series written by the historical novelist Bernard Cornwell about 9th century Britain. The protagonist of the series is Uhtred Ragnarson, sometimes known as Uhtred Uhtredson. Uhtred is born in Northumbria, but captured and adopted by the Danes...
, a series of books written by the historical novelist Bernard CornwellBernard CornwellBernard Cornwell OBE is an English author of historical novels. He is best known for his novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe which were adapted into a series of Sharpe television films.-Biography:...
. - Edmund Eldredson, ealdorman of Sherborne, in G. A. HentyG. A. HentyGeorge Alfred Henty , was a prolific English novelist and a special correspondent. He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include Out on the Pampas , The Young Buglers , With Clive in India and Wulf the Saxon .-Biography:G.A...
's The Dragon and the Raven.