Ealdorman

Ealdorman (/ˈɔːldərmən/ AWL-dər-mən or /(eɪ)ˈældərmən/ (ay-)AL-dər-mən, Old English: [ˈæɑɫdorˌmɑn])[1] was an office in the government of Anglo-Saxon England.

The title could be applied to kings of weaker territories who had submitted to a greater power.

For example, a charter of King Offa of Mercia described Ealdred of Hwicce as "subregulus ... et dux ('underking and ealdorman').

[3] In the 10th century, the kings of Wessex successfully unified England into one kingdom, and ealdormen became the local representatives of the monarch.

[4][5] Starting with Edward the Elder (r. 899–924), it became customary for one ealdorman to administer three or four shires together as an ealdormanry.