Anglo-Saxon nobility

Anglo-Saxon nobility consisted of powerful leaders and landowners, such as earls and thegns, who held authority and land granted by kings. They governed local regions, maintained armies, and provided military service in exchange for their status. Nobles supported the king, upheld laws, and served as important figures in society’s hierarchy. Their influence was reinforced through wealth, land, and social obligations, forming the upper tier of early medieval English society before the Norman Conquest.