Thane, also spelled thegn, is an Anglo-Saxon title which was used for many years in early England and Scotland. The word had many meanings. At various times it meant servant, attendant, or official. Early England had a system of thanehood which was similar to the later system of knighthood. Freemen (men who were not slaves or serfs) had to fulfill one of the following conditions to become a thane: gain control of a certain amount of land, make three sea voyages, or do military service.
A thane of ordinary standing received a manor from the lord he served. In time, a successful thane might become an earl (member of the higher nobility). In wartime, royal thanes formed the king’s personal bodyguard. The title has not been used since the reign of William the Conqueror.
