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The Witan (Old English witenagemot, moot or meeting) was the term used to describe the council summoned by Anglo-Saxon kings. These meetings of aldermen, thanes and bishops discussed royal grants of land, church matters, charters, taxation, customary law, defence and foreign policy. The succession of a new king had to be approved by the Witan.

The composition of the Witan was not set and the size of the assembly depended on what was being discussed and where it was held. For example, meetings were larger during religious festivals and when the king was resident in one of his palaces.

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Did King Alfred have Lords and Earls and such?

The Engllish system of land tenure was much simpler than the French style Feudalism imposed by William the Conqueror. If I remember correctly the basic rank of nobility was "thane". Anybody who possessed, again if I remember right, 400 hides of land was, at least technically, a thane. I don't remember how much a hide actually was. Above the thanes were eorls or eorldermen. I forget how much land you had to have to be an eorl but it was quite a lot, there were very few of them. That was about it, thane, eorl, king. Michael MontagneAnotherThe order of nobility in England today is a hybrid of English, Norse and Latin traditions. The Old English had a title called "Thane" which was essentially a knight or baron with sworn loyalty to the king. There were variou degrees of Thane's some ranking above others. The Thane would employ "Huscarls" - professional warriors - who would raise armies for the Thane when the need arose. The land was administered in Wessex through the shire model. The shires were governed by a "Eorlderman". Eorldermen were often from an established royal dynasty that no longer enjoyed the status of "king". The Eorldermen ruled the shire through a "Shire Reeve", a sort of chief executive from which we get the word "Sheriff" and a "Shire Moot" - a sort of assembly. The shire's were divided into hundreds (like a district) which were themselves administered by a "Hundred Reeve" and a "Hundred Moot".Above all of this were royalty who were afforded the title "Ætheling" - basically meaning "royal son". The Witan - a sort of parliament of leading nobles and clergy - chose or confirmed the next king from among the Æthelings.The Norse Vikings introduced the term "Earl" which comes from "Yarl" and means "lord". The Norman French introduced, or re-introduced, latin terms such as Duke (from Dux), Baron and Marquess etc.


Who rules when a prince is too young?

A REGENT - usually a near relative of the child-king. Sometimes there is no suitable individual, so a COUNCIL OF REGENCY is appointed. Of course, in most ages of History, the answer has been 'whoever can grab the throne#.


Related Questions

What did William of Normandy do about the witan?

im not sure


What was the national assembly of Anglo Saxons in England called?

Witan /witenagemot


What was the witan in 1042bc?

The witan, or witenagemot, was an assembly of nobles and clergy in Anglo-Saxon England that advised the king and made important decisions regarding governance, law, and succession. Though the term "witan" typically refers to the period of Anglo-Saxon rule rather than 1042 BC, it played a significant role in the political landscape of England, particularly during the reign of King Edward the Confessor from 1042 to 1066. The witan's influence was crucial in legitimizing royal authority and addressing matters of state, including the selection of the monarch.


Who supported Harold godwinson to be king?

The assembly of Anglo-Saxon "regional kings", called Witan.


Explain why the witan might be biased towards certain candidates?

The witan, or the council of nobles in Anglo-Saxon England, might be biased towards certain candidates due to various factors such as familial ties, political alliances, and shared interests. Nobles often supported candidates who could ensure the continuation of their power or privileges, leading to favoritism. Additionally, loyalty to a particular lineage or the desire for stability within the realm could influence their decisions, swaying the witan towards candidates who align with their interests rather than those who might be more capable or deserving.


What king died in 1066?

King Edward the Confessor, and since he didn't have a son or daughter, the crown was chosen by the WITAN


Who chooses the Anglo Saxon kings?

The Anglo-Saxon kings were typically chosen through a combination of hereditary succession and the approval of noblemen or the Witan, an assembly of the ruling elite. While the crown often passed within a ruling family, the Witan had the authority to endorse or reject a candidate, especially if there were disputes over legitimacy or leadership qualities. This process allowed for both continuity and the possibility of change in leadership based on the consensus of powerful nobles.


What are some of the claims that Harold Godwin had to the throne of England?

I don't know complitely but I do know that one of the reasons he had it was because he had alot of help from the royal counial (witan). Hope that was a help x


What service does the company Witan Jardine provide?

Witen Jardine is a recruiting company. They recruite prospective employees for permanent and temporary employment in a wide range of industries at every company level.


What does witagemont mean?

The Witenagemot (also called the Witan , the title of its members) was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated between centuries VII and XI .The name "Witenagemot" comes from Old English , meaning assembly of wise men ("Witan" wise or counselor , "gemot"assembly ). It was the legacy of ancient tribal assemblies that later became the tips, where they met the most important people in the area, among whom were bishops , abbots, nobles and the king's advisers.Hope this helps... :-)


Where is MITTAL STEEL COMPANY UK?

MITTAL STEEL COMPANY UK Corporate head office: Witan Gate House 500/600 Milton Keynes, Mk9 IES UK Tel: +447024012477


Who would the Witan have chosen if they didn't choose Harold Godwinson?

edgar atheling. harold and edgar were the omly two saxon contenders. the witsnwrre only going to pick a saxon, so if it wasn't harold, it would have been edgar