What is a Thegn?

What is a Thegn? – Thegn is the Anglo Saxon title for a lord or nobleman not of the King’s royal family. These were often great warriors who commanded their own war bands of household troops that could make up a small army. Thegns were either born to that position through a warrior father, were appointed as a Thegn through valiant service, or were leaders of a warband who became a defacto Thegn through force, by taking a stronghold or town. They ranged from vast landholders who were extremely wealthy to individual, landless warriors who owned nothing more than their own armor and a title (which was somewhat meaningless without the lands to support it) These Thegns and other nobility owed some fealty to their state, or to the king, and were often “Oath men” who had sworn support and allegiance, but also had their primary obligation to their own people and family. They were semi-autonomous, and their level of independence was typically directly proportional to their wealth and to their distance from the capital. Thegns could, and would, defy a king in order to support their land and families. They engaged in their own diplomacy, with many making their own peace with raiding Vikings or Welsh, and others fighting their own wars against the same, or against other Thegns. But when the royal banners were furled and the armies called up, these same men set aside what squabbles they had within their own little kingdoms and joined together to fight against a common foe. Macbeth, in Shakespeare’s play of the same name, was made Thane of Cawdor (spelled in the Shakespearean form rather than the Anglo Saxon style) for his battlefield service to the King of Scotland.

Why a Thegn? Something I want to make clear within the micronational community is that I am, and will always be, an American. I am proud of my service in the US Military, and proud of my ancestors who have served before me, all the way back through the Revolution and before. I have sworn an oath to the United States which I will always honor, but the rights and liberties of a free people are what I have fought for. A man’s home is, indeed, his castle, and any contract he signs for rent or ownership of land and estates makes it his sovereign territory within the bounds of that contract (and thus the accepted law) I own my own land, and have come by my estates through my military service, so I can and shall execute a large amount of independence and autonomy in how it is managed. I chose the title of Thegn as opposed to the more common royal monarchial or democratic titles within mircronationalism for several reasons, though primarily because it is now defunct. I operate within the culture of the United States, and its military, which is a meritocracy with a deep and historical aversion to royalty. I was, however, not elected, and cannot assume a democratic title. I achieved my position just as other hereditary monarchs, through force of arms (in the historical vein of land grants and titles of nobility rather than conquest.)  The title, position, and estates are also hereditary, with, just as in the nobility of the old world, much expected of noble children in order for them to rightfully inherit. I feel that the title of Thegn most accurately summarizes this role and that of ruler of an independent and autonomous feudal state that will nevertheless answer the call and honor its oath when the nation needs its service once again.

The Thegn-Hold – the sovereign feudal state encompasses just what the title suggests: The holdings of the Thegn. In times past this could include castles, strongholds, fields, villages, towns, ships, and ports, all owned or controlled by their liege lord. A Thegn-hold is, however, not a set piece and can wax and wane with the fortunes of war, commerce, politics, and diplomacy, but it is always associated with what is held by a Thegn and his family. This could be vast estates one day and nothing more than a personal income the next. The size and prominence of a Thegn-hold depends only on the honor, ambition, and ability of its Thegn.