The nature, structure and diversity of late Anglo-Saxon society

England

• The Kingdom of England had existed for just over 100 years

• Before this, each region was separate, with several different rulers, meaning that there were strong regional differences: Anglo Saxons in the midlands, Viking descendants in the North, ancient Britons in Cornwall

• The English king had a strong central control over their realm

• England was divided into shires, most of which had several royal burhs which were where local people would go for safety, markets and trade as well as being centres of government

• English Kings set up mints to produce good quality trusted coins to encourage trade and make taxation easier

Kings

• Expected to be strong leaders and warriors to protect the kingdom

• Raised taxes to pay for defence, bridges, roads and burhs

• Responsible for making new laws with his advisors in law courts

• Edward the confessor was religious and focused largely on Church affairs and left other decisions to his advisers

Earls

• Made up the Witan ( the powerful lords and bishops who advised the king) which was powerful and could influence who became king

• Did not keep their own armies but lead the fyrd

• Held shire courts twice a year

Thegns

• Approximately 5000

• To be a Thegn you would have to own at least 250 hectares of land

• Ran the local courts, collecting taxes and helping the king to manage the realm

Ceorls

• Made up the vast majority of the English population

• Free Saxons who worked on the land

• Most grew crops and raised animals, other being skilled tradesmen

• Some owned a house and land but most rented from a thegn and worked on his land

• Had to fight in the fyrd in times of war

• Took part in trials in local courts

Thralls

• Enslaved people who were the property of their master

• Could not leave to find work elsewhere

Wergild

• Every person's life was given a cash value based on their rank

• If a person was killed, the killer would have to pay the person's wergild ( if they could not pay then they were executed)

• Set in shillings ( 1 shilling was the value of a cow)

• Thralls were given no value

• Ceorl was worth 160 shillings and thegn 1200 shillings and earl 4800 shillings

• A woman's wergild was the same as a man's of the same rank and increased by 50 is she was pregnant

 This system of wergild illustrates the importance of social status and gender equality in terms of compensation, reflecting the complex hierarchical nature of late Anglo-Saxon society. Additionally, the varying values assigned to different social classes highlight the economic disparities and the significance of land ownership, which played a crucial role in determining an individual's standing within the community.

• Kingdom of England: Established for just over 100 years.

• Regions: Separate rulers prior; Anglo Saxons (midlands), Viking descendants (North), ancient Britons (Cornwall).

• Central control: Strong oversight by English king.

• Shires: Divided regions with royal burhs for safety, markets, and trade.

• Mints: Set up by kings to produce trusted coinage, aiding trade and taxation.

• Kings: Expected to be strong leaders and warriors.

• Taxes: Raised for defense, infrastructure, and burhs.

• Laws: Created with advisors in courts; Edward the Confessor focused on Church matters.

• Earls: Part of the Witan; influenced kingship.

• Fyrd: Led local militias rather than maintaining armies.

• Shire courts: Held sessions biannually.

• Thegns: Approx. 5000; owned minimum 250 hectares of land.

• Ran local courts, collected taxes, assisted the king.

• Ceorls: Majority of the population; Free Saxons working on land.

• Occupations: Crop growers, animal raisers, skilled tradesmen.

• Land ownership: Some rented from thegns, involved in fyrd during wars.

• Thralls: Enslaved people, property of masters, not free to leave.

• Wergild: Life value assigned based on rank; compensation for murder; executions for unpaid wergild.

• Shilling values: 1 shilling = value of a cow.

• Social values: Ceorl - 160 shillings, Thegn - 1200 shillings, Earl - 4800 shillings; pregnant women’s worth increased by 50.

• Illustration of society: Reflects social status, economic disparities, gender equality in compensation.