Have you ever heard the word “thane”? It sounds a little odd, doesn’t it? Thane is a special title for someone in history, especially in Scotland. Let’s find out what a thane is and why it is important.
Title for 10-Down NYT Crossword Clue
ANSWER – THANE
The Meaning of Thane
In the old days, a thane was a person who was in charge of land. Think of them as an assistant to the king or leader. The thanes looked after the land and the people who lived on it. This made the thane a very important person in their community.
The word “thane” comes from an old language called Old English. It means someone who gets land from the king. In return, the thane would promise to help and protect the king. They had to be brave and loyal, like a knight!
Thanes in Scotland
In Scotland, thanes were very important during the time of kings and queens. The king would give land to the thane. This land was called a “thaneship.” Thanes lived on the land and looked after it. They also made sure that the people who worked the land were safe and happy.
A famous story that talks about the thanedaar is “Macbeth.” Macbeth was a thanedaar before he became king. The story shows us how much power and responsibility a thanedaar could have. Sometimes, they had to make difficult choices.
What does a thanedaar do?
Being a thanedaar didn’t just mean owning land. Thanedars had many jobs. They had to do:
Taking care of the land: They made sure the fields were good for farming. They also checked that the animals were safe.
Helping the king: When the king needed help, thanedars were there. They fought wars and protected the kingdom.
Helping people: Thanedars had to make sure that the people living on their land were treated well. They listened to people’s problems and tried to help them.