jarls
Viking ruling class
Jarls were Norse chieftains or earls—the highest-ranking nobles below kings in medieval Scandinavian society.
The word survives mainly in historical contexts and fantasy fiction: The jarl ruled his territory with absolute authority.
The singular is jarl; jarls is the plural.
Feudal lord of Scotland
- chieftainLeader of a tribe
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
peerage · aristocracy · baron · count · highborn · nobility · lordship · title
Slender Norse rowing vessel
- raidsSudden armed attacks
- sagasExtended heroic narratives
- runesOld Germanic script
- meadHoney-fermented alcoholic drink
berserker · shieldmaiden · fjord · skald · mead hall · runestone · Scandinavia · thing
thane
Feudal lord of Scotland
dynasty · peerage · aristocracy · baron · count · highborn · nobility · lordship · title · rank
longship
Slender Norse rowing vessel
mead · berserker · shieldmaiden · fjord · skald · mead hall · runestone · Scandinavia · thing · huscarl
overlord
Supreme feudal superior
- dominionAuthority to rule
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
command · territory · realm · domain · authority · power · tribute · allegiance · regional · petty king
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
fealty · suzerainty · knight · serfdom · manor · demesne · stewardship · oath · service · loyalty
- VikingsViking, longships, longship, raiding, Norse settlers
- Nordic HistoryViking Age, Viking raids, longships, runestones, Great Northern War
- Norse VikingsVikings, Thor, Odin, Loki, Valhalla
- Viking AgeVikings, longships, raiders, Odin, Norse settlers
- Early MedievalCharlemagne, Carolingian Empire, Carolingians, Carolingian, Viking Age
- Norse HistoryVikings, longships, rune stones, sagas, Norse gods
jarlssubjects
Areas of study
vassals · underlings · servants · subordinates · kings