Earldoms and Saxon Government

• Anglo-Saxon earldoms

  • Northumbria
  • Mercia
  • East Anglia
  • Kent
  • Wessex
• The earls were given many of the king's powers to aid in governing the country
• Earls' powers

  • Wealth - received one-third of the money raised by taxes
  • Law and order - ensured laws were obeyed
  • Armies - maintained an elite bodyguard of professional soldiers called house carls
• Power of the earls


  Depended on the support of the thanes in their earldoms
• Thanes could demand the removal of an earl from his position, as seen in the case of Earl Tostig in 1065
• Earls could challenge the king, but a strong king could easily keep them in check
• Strengths of earls

  • Receiving one-third of all money raised by taxes
  • Maintaining an elite bodyguard
  • Having the support of their thanes
• Weaknesses of earls

  • Risk of punishment from a powerful king like Knut
  • Thanes could demand the removal of an earl from his position
• Split of Saxon England

  • Earldoms - Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Kent, Wessex
  • Danelaw - culturally Danish and English sections