Theodish-Asatru Hall System; Social Structure
Theodism is more than just “religion”, it is the building of a society. This includes political and religious structure, and a social structure. Theodism is much like a caste system and for many Theods the system is different depending on which tribe they are reconstructing. Rank is based on one's deeds that have been done to build the community, and further the religious beliefs of the Theod. Ultimately it comes down to this, there is a man at the top who rules the theod and below him there are other people with various degrees of power based upon years of service and loyalty. Something to remember is that in ancient pagan Anglo-Saxon England, everyone was upwardly mobile, and downwardly as well. The same holds true in Theodism.
At Hammerhof we are looking at the Saxons and the Danelaw. We
draw from pre-Christian Saxon society and the Scandinavian (Vikings) who ruled
northern England from about 860 AD to 960 AD. At the time of the Danelaw most
Saxons had converted to Christianity and these new outside invaders were
heathens. Historically, the “Hall” is in Anglo-Saxon England was just part of a
much larger manorial complex. In addition to the great hall there would be many
other buildings including workhouses, stables, kitchens, and other houses in
which the tribal members lived. Anglo-Saxon and Danish territories both relied
on the village as a fundamental unit of settlement.[1]
What this means is that the manorial complex is connected to a village, this is
the idea behind the Theodish-Asatru Hall System. It
takes a village…
The first concept to understand is that of Innargarth and Untangarth, essentially insiders and outsiders. Some members of the kindred are outsiders meaning they do not have the privileges of those on the inside. Those of the Innargarth have served their time and have been selected to take the Kindred Oath. Untangarth members are the members who have served the least amount of time and have not yet “proven” themselves or are possible non-heathen who will never be part of the innargarth.
In 2013 I began developing a system for Theodish like
kindreds. Hammerhof Kindred is not truly Theodish, although we have
similarities and shared customs, we are an Asatru kindred. The system I
developed is called the Hall System. It is based on the idea that a
Saxon/Viking hall contains a tribe, some related by birth others by oath. The
hall is a micro community, a tribe, that work together to build a better world
for their tribe.
The first concept to understand is that of Innargarth and Untangarth, essentially insiders and outsiders. Some members of the kindred are outsiders meaning they do not have the privileges of those on the inside. Those of the Innargarth have served their time and have been selected to take the Kindred Oath. Untangarth members are the members who have served the least amount of time and have not yet “proven” themselves or are possible non-heathen who will never be part of the innargarth.
One of the concepts in Theodish-Asatru Hall System is the dryht or warband, which would have comprised the bulk of many early Saxon halls. In our system the Dryhten (warlord, chief, leader) is the sacral lord of the Hall (or manor) and thus the kindred. The Dryhten holds his power within the kindred in much the same way as a sacral king would, he the intermediary between his people and the gods and the charismatic embodiment of the ‘luck’ of the folk. His duty is to safeguard the Thews and luck of the tribe, partake in the feasts, he is the voice of the tribe, and the high chair of the Witan or legal council of the tribe.
The Witan is a group of Eorlas (earls) who act as the court system within the Kindred and our Theodish-Asatru Hall System. An eorl or ealdorman (OE) was a high-ranking lord of Anglo-Saxon England. Under our system an Eorl is the highest level with in the Hall besides the Dryhten. The witan is comprised of four eorlas who have shown to be “just in judgement”. They along with the Dryhten hear legal issues, complains, and control the purse of the kindred. The Witan is the highest ruling body within the hall.
Below the eorlas you have the Thanes. In Anglo-Saxon England a thane was a man who held land granted by the king or by a military nobleman (Dryhten), ranking between an ordinary freeman and a hereditary noble. With in the Hall these are free men and women who hold rights and privileges granted by being part of the innargarth.
In the Untangarth are the members of the kindred who are relatively green. They are learning the tribal Thews and proving themselves worthy of the Oath. These folks normally have a mentor from the innargarth who helps to guide them. Within in this group ae the Ceorl and þéow. Coerlas are the lowest ranking freemen of the kindred. They have little to know duties within the tribe, unless called up for service. At the lowest level, that of entry level into the kindred is the þéow. þéowas have no rights in the kindred and are overseen by a thane or an eorl.
In a nutshell that’s it. To some this might seem somewhat insane. Why have a ridged social structure for a religious organization? That is where the Theodish concept comes into play, we are reconstructing a historic system of religion, society, and governance. Theodism is not as simple as going to church on Sunday.
The Witan is a group of Eorlas (earls) who act as the court system within the Kindred and our Theodish-Asatru Hall System. An eorl or ealdorman (OE) was a high-ranking lord of Anglo-Saxon England. Under our system an Eorl is the highest level with in the Hall besides the Dryhten. The witan is comprised of four eorlas who have shown to be “just in judgement”. They along with the Dryhten hear legal issues, complains, and control the purse of the kindred. The Witan is the highest ruling body within the hall.
Below the eorlas you have the Thanes. In Anglo-Saxon England a thane was a man who held land granted by the king or by a military nobleman (Dryhten), ranking between an ordinary freeman and a hereditary noble. With in the Hall these are free men and women who hold rights and privileges granted by being part of the innargarth.
In the Untangarth are the members of the kindred who are relatively green. They are learning the tribal Thews and proving themselves worthy of the Oath. These folks normally have a mentor from the innargarth who helps to guide them. Within in this group ae the Ceorl and þéow. Coerlas are the lowest ranking freemen of the kindred. They have little to know duties within the tribe, unless called up for service. At the lowest level, that of entry level into the kindred is the þéow. þéowas have no rights in the kindred and are overseen by a thane or an eorl.
In a nutshell that’s it. To some this might seem somewhat insane. Why have a ridged social structure for a religious organization? That is where the Theodish concept comes into play, we are reconstructing a historic system of religion, society, and governance. Theodism is not as simple as going to church on Sunday.
[1] House, Anthony House. “The
Development of the Manor in Anglo-Saxon and Danish England.” The Development of
the Manor in Anglo-Saxon and Danish England,.
http://www.ptomng.com/z2001manor.htm.
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