Lesson plan
Lendmann
Lendmann (plural lendmenn; ) was a title in medieval Norway. A lendmann had the highest rank attainable in the royal hird, that is, the secular aristocracy, standing beneath earls and dukes only. In the 13th century, there were between ten and twenty lendmenn at any one time. A lendmann was similar to the medieval English baron, itself corresponding to a modern count. The term is first mentioned in skald poetry from the reign of king Olaf Haraldsson (reigned 1015–1028) in the early 11th century. The lendmenn had military and police as well as fiscal responsibilities for their districts. King Magnus VI Lagabøte (reigned 1263–1280) abolished the title, replacing it with baron. In 1308 Haakon V of Norway (reigned 1299–1319) abolished the baronial title as well. Among his relatively sparse privileges, as stipulated by the Hirðskrá, a lendmann was allowed to keep a retinue of forty housecarls without special permission from the king. He was also entitled to an annual compensation paid in silver. In English historical literature and translations, lendmann is often translated as landed man. The word literally means enfeoffed man, one who has received a fief in return for services to the king.…
Article summary
Lendmann (plural lendmenn; ) was a title in medieval Norway. A lendmann had the highest rank attainable in the royal hird, that is, the secular aristocracy, standing beneath earls and dukes only. In the 13th century, there were between ten and twenty lendmenn at any one time. A lendmann was similar to the medieval English baron, itself corresponding to a modern count. The term is first mentioned in skald poetry from the reign of king Olaf Haraldsson (reigned 1015–1028) in the early 11th century. The lendmenn had military and police as well as fiscal responsibilities for their districts. King Magnus VI Lagabøte (reigned 1263–1280) abolished the title, replacing it with baron. In 1308 Haakon V of Norway (reigned 1299–1319) abolished the baronial title as well. Among his relatively sparse privileges, as stipulated by the Hirðskrá, a lendmann was allowed to keep a retinue of forty housecarls without special permission from the king. He was also entitled to an annual compensation paid in silver. In English historical literature and translations, lendmann is often translated as landed man. The word literally means enfeoffed man, one who has received a fief in return for services to the king.…
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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