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According to Webster's Dictionary, a thane, also spelled thegn, was a free man or lord in Anglo-Saxon England. The term was popularly used until the Norman Conquest in 1066. During that time, England fought many battles and needed soldiers to protect and to occupy the land. The king rewarded thanes with gold and land (Lapidge 443). The poem, "The Wanderer" is one of the most famous works from that period describing a soldier and his connection with a thane. In the Old English period, a thane played increasing important part in the social hierarchy as his power grew. By the eleventh century, thanes became rich, and famous. By that time, they were known as barons or knights. There were two ways of becoming a lord: by inheriting the title or fulfilling certain conditions. A warrior could become a lord by showing great bravery during a fight by saving the life of the king. Literary masterpieces from the medieval period describe thanes and their conquests.
The elegy "The Wanderer" concerns a warrior who has lost his lord. He feels lonely, abandoned and full of grief: "Often before the day dawned I have had to speak of my cares, alone: there is now none among the living to whom I dare clearly express the thought of my heart" (101). He screams: "Where are they?" referring to all who have died during the wars and have never got to live long and experience life.
Britannica.com defines comitatus as an elite team of immediate followers of a king or an army commander. A comitatus was formed in wartime, as well as during peacetime. Usually a lord sought men to accompany him on forays into rival territory and the arrangement become permanent. A lord took care of his soldier and they did not have to worry about food or drink. In "The Wanderer" a soldier is talking about his experience with food: "He recalls the hall-warriors and the taking of treasure, how in youth his gold-friend made him accustomed to feasting" (101). The soldier is dreaming of his past when he and his friends lived a good life. After the battle, all of them enjoyed the celebration. They eat, drink and get gifts from their lord. This time is very special for all of the warriors: "In his mind he is embracing and kissing his liege lord and laying his hands and his head on his knee, as it some times was in the old days when he took part in the gift-giving" (101).
The admiration of the lord explains the role and power of the comitatus between lord and thane. The relationship was very important for both parties. The warrior had a place to stay, armor, weapons, food and drink. It the medieval period drinking was a very important part of life and soldiers were drinking constantly. Since alcohol made soldiers brave, it helped them overcome the fear of death. The weather was very cold; people lived in the halls with no heat, and alcohol kept them alive. Their boasting was a pledge to act: they promised to win the battle or to die on the battlefield for the good of their country. The connection between soldiers and leaders was straightforward. Lords needed company during wartime and warriors needed support. Members of the comitatus were willing to fight to the death for their leader; it was dishonor for them to survive him (Britannica.com). In the Battle of Maldon, Christians had to pledge the ancient code of honor that obligated them to avenge their lord or to die beside him (Abrams 4).
Breaking the comitatus destroyed the agreement and displaced thanes from their place in society. They no longer found purpose for their existence and were left wandering alone. The theme of friendship and loyalty to the lord is echoed in many works of the Anglo-Saxon period through many masterpieces of that time; Beowulf and "The Wanderer" are just examples. The comitatus was necessary to survive and both parties benefited from the agreement.
Abrams M. H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 7th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 2000.
Lapidge, Michael. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England. 1st ed. Molden. Massachusetts: Blackwell. 1999.
Soukhanov, Ellis. Webster’s II. New Riverside University Dictionary. The Riverside Publishing Company. 1984.
Britannica: Global Encyclopedia. 1999. 17 Sept. 2000.
http:// www.britannica.com/bcom
"European Medieval Swords." Medieval Sword Resource Online. 1997. 17 Sept. 2000.
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