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Glite Dictionary
ealdorman

ealdorman

9.9
A noble who rules a region for the king in Anglo-Saxon England
  • noun
  • /ˈiːl.dɔːr.mən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ealdorman
  • King Alfred entrusted the governance of London to Aethelred, the ealdorman of Mercia.

Examples

  • As outlined earlier, Cerdic is described in these early days of the West Saxon people as an Ealdorman ("Elder Man").

    Blog text (15)

  • The authority of the ealdorman was essential for maintaining order in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

  • Another side effect of Badon was to elevate the wily Cerdic from Ealdorman to king.

    Blog text (15)

  • During the conflict, the ealdorman Aethelwulf displayed great bravery on the battlefield.

Synonyms

earl
vsealdorman
9 8.8

A British noble who ranks between a marquess and a viscount

focuses on governing a region for the king rather than on noble rank
landgrave
vsealdorman
  • Archaic
9.9

A lord who ruled a large area in medieval Germany

governs a region on behalf of the king in Anglo-Saxon England

Surface Forms

ealdorman singular
ealdormen plural

Etymology

Ealdorman comes from Old English parts eald meaning 'old' or 'elder' and man meaning 'man'. So an ealdorman was literally an 'elder man', a senior leader who governed a region for the king.