Witan
Sign in to saveAlso known as Witenagemot
thumb|Anglo-Saxon king with his witan. Biblical scene in the illustrated Old English Hexateuch (11th century), portraying pharaoh in court session, after passing judgment on his chief baker and chief cupbearer. The witan () was the king's council in the Anglo-Saxon government of England from before the 7th century until the 11th century. It comprised important noblemen, including ealdormen, thegns, and bishops. Meetings of the witan were sometimes called the witenagemot.
~12 min read
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Origins
- Attendance and locations
- Role
- Electing and deposing kings
- Norman Conquest
- Historiography
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
thumb|Anglo-Saxon king with his witan. Biblical scene in the illustrated Old English Hexateuch (11th century), portraying pharaoh in court session, after passing judgment on his chief baker and chief cupbearer. The witan () was the king's council in the Anglo-Saxon government of England from before the 7th century until the 11th century. It comprised important noblemen, including ealdormen, thegns, and bishops. Meetings of the witan were sometimes called the witenagemot.
Its primary function was to advise the king on legislation, judicial cases, land transfers, and other matters of national importance. The witan may have elected new kings from among members of the ruling dynasty. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, these roles were performed by a similar council known as the curia regis.