thegns

Thegns was a title given to those members of society in late Anglo-Saxon England who held at least 5 hides of land and were under the obligation of serving the king in battle. Though there were many gradations within the ranks of thegns, their wergeld in Mercia and Wessex was six times that of a ceorl. The spelling has been preferred by historians to distinguish them from Scottish thanes, who were barons or clan leaders.