THANE

was a title of honour among the Anglo-Saxons. In England any freeman who got five hides of land, or who made three sea voyages, or who took Holy Orders, became a Thane and every Thane had the right of voting both in; the shire and the national Witan a gemot or ‘Meeting of Wise Men,’ which elected the king and helped him to make or alter the laws and to appoint or remove state officials.