Social Ladder
- The highest postion
- "Chosen by God" (divine right of kings)
- Monarchy
- Had a mead hall for parties
- Owns all the land
- Advised by Witan and Officers: Chancellor, Count of Stables, Treasurer
Princes of Blood/Aetheling
- Aetheling means "noble family"
- Related to the king by blood
- Began as a term to describe anybody in the royal family, but then evolved into describing those in line for kingship
Eorls/Aristocrats
- Wealthy land owners
- King divides the land into shires(counties)and the Eorls are appointed to rule over a section of land
- Eventually they would grow in power until they ruled over multiple shires
Thegns/Warriors
- Warriors
- Usually associated with military
- Did not have to be of noble blood to retain his title
- Thegns can be awarded rings, land , and gold
Theowas/Slaves
- Theowas were made up of: captives, people with high debts, criminals, people born into slavery
- They could sometimes buy their freedom
- They could buy their freedom and freeing a slave was considered a commendable act
The Political+Social Hierarchy of Anglo-Saxon
By. Alexa K. Jes S. Noah K. Otie S. Nolan M.
http://doyoufancysomeenglish.wordpress.com/
https://www.google.com/search?q=google&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=UHpTUsrAGcSfiAKt8YDgCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1093&bih=477&dpr=1#q=anglo-saxon+king&rls=com.microsoft:en-US%3AIE-SearchBox&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=6-fCsANl2hDxIM%3A%3BAsY2G8wI57IeZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbritishstudies.pbworks.com%252Ff%252F1241374757%252FHaroldKing.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbritishstudies.pbworks.com%252Fw%252Fpage%252F15133681%252FNorman%252520Conquest%3B163%3B204
Theoden/King
Connection to Beowulf
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=Anglo%20saxon%20castles&source=images&cd=&docid=JEJf3BrKWQs5XM&tbnid=moDDPa6vEwTlFM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fetc.usf.edu%2Fclipart%2F2000%2F2092%2Ffeudalcastle_1.htm&ei=ByNUUpDSLoSoiAKUs4C4AQ&bvm=bv.53760139,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNHq0-w_L614LflewuxE2NDg7-edmg&ust=1381332088969459
- Warrior named Beowulf was loyal to the king Hrothgar
- Greatest warrior alive, stated that strength was more important than wealth
- Beowulf agrees to kill Grendel not for money, but for glory and adventure
Kinship
- If you were killed or someone in your family was you were required to be avenged or to avenge them
- An alternative was to pay the family compensation or wergild
- Wergild was based on a peoples ranks in the social ladder
Hrothgar
- Hrothgar was a respected king, willing to fight
- Society valued a king who loved action
- Stuck to his word and gave out rewards, wasn't greedy with wealth
The End
*clap*