ealdormann

m (-es/-menn) 1. elderman, alderman, ruler, prince, senator, chief, nobleman of the highest rank, and holding an office inferior only to that of the king, high civil or religious officer, chief officer of a shire; as translation of foreign titles; in a general sense, (1) used of a person of high position, a prince, ruler, leader, magistrate, (2) a master, overseer of workmen; 1a. w.g., chief of a class or a profession; The title of Ealdorman or Aldorman denoted civil as well as military preeminence. The word ealdor or aldor in Anglo-Saxon denotes princely dignity; in Beowulf it is used as a synonym for cyning, þéoden, and other words applied to royal personages. Like many other titles of rank in the various Teutonic languages, it, strictly speaking, implies age, though practically this idea does not survive in it any more than it does in the word Senior, the original of the feudal term Seigneur. Every shire has its ealdormann, who was the principal judicial officer of the shire, and also the leader of its armed force. The internal regulations of the shire, as well as its political relation to the whole kingdom, were under his immediate guidance and supervision - the scírgeréfa, or sheriff, being little more than his deputy, and, under his control. The dignity of the ealdorman was supported by his lands within his district which appear to have passed within the office, - hence the phrases, þæs ealdormannes land, mearc, gemǽru, etc. which so often occur. The ealdorman had also share of the fines and other monies levied to the king's use; though, as he was invariably appointed among the higher nobles, he must always have possessed lands of his own to the extent of forty hides. The ealdormen of the several shires seem to have been appointed by the king, with the assent of the higher nobles, if not of the whole witena gemót, and to have been taken from the most trustworthy, powerful, and wealthy of the nobles of the shire. The offices and dignity of eadlorman was held for life, - though sometimes forfeited for treason and other grave offences; but it was not strictly hereditary; fram þǽm bróðrum and þǽm ealdormannum; 2. the new constitution introduced by Cnut, who reigned in England from 1014 to 1035 AD, reduced the ealdorman to a subordinate position - one eorl (Norse jarl), being placed over several shires. The Danish kings ruled by their eorlas or jarls, and the ealdorman disappeared from the shires. Gradually the title ceased altogether, except in the cities, where it denoted an inferior judicature, much as it now does among ourselves; 3. used of the holder of a particular office; (1) referring to other than English officials; (a) of a secular office; (b) of ecclesiastical office; (2) of English officials;