Thane
a title of honor or dignity among the Anglo-Saxons. In England a freeman not noble was raised to the dignity of a thane by acquiring a certain amount of land (five hides in the case of a lesser thane), by making three sea voyages, or by receiving holy orders. The thanes had the right of voting in the Witenagemot, not only of their own shires, but also of the whole kingdom, on important questions. There were two orders of thanes: The king's thanes, or those who attended at his court and held lands immediately from him, and ordinary thanes, or lords of the manor, and who had a particular jurisdiction within their limits. On the cessation of his actual personal service about the king, the thane received a grant of land. After the Norman conquest, thanes and barons were classed together, and the title fell into disuse in the reign of Henry II. In Scotland, thane signified originally a count or earl, one who ruled a county, or even in some cases a province. Afterward the title was applied to a class of non-military tenants of the crown, and continued in use till the end of the 15th century.