Social Rank

One of the things that distinguishes a Théodish group from most other forms of Heathenry in the world today is the use of social rankings, called "arrungs" to determine one's place within the tribe.

The exact meaning of rank and of the words for ranks as they are often used in common speech is not always clear to everyone. Names for ranks may be used formally in “capital letter” sense, but are also often used informally in a colloquial sense. For instance, it is not unusual to hear a lord refer to some lord under him as “my thane” or even as “my lord”, depending on context. It would not be unusual for a churl to address the thane to whom he is sworn as “my lord”, or to address his wife as “my lady”. In other words, such terms may have both informal and formal meanings. Moreover, there are recognized ranks in the various Heathen paths or ways of life.

Names for ranks normally designate social rank and authority. The first level of freedom is that of churl, and anyone called a churl is understood by that designation to be free to swear oaths, bear arms and own property in his own right by definition, whether his means and lifestyle be grand and prosperous or poor and simple. This protection and freedom is the result of the web of oaths of loyalty amongst people.

Above the churl is the Thane, who is in specialized service and is the first level of peerage (nobility). Those who are peers are considered “above the salt”, the elder term denoting that in a feast they would sit above the place on the table at which the salt was kept. It is a tradition born of a time when salt was a valuable commodity and usually available to the nobility only- except that they would share it in their feast halls with their folk. Those “at the salt” were exceptional common folks in service to their peers in special ways. Those “below the salt” were the common folk and those without freedom.

Of course, some Tribes have different thews as to how Arrungs are handled; within Normandy, there are distinctions between folk and fyrd Arrungs- also there are two stages of thralldom, three Churlish, two Thanely, and three Lordship levels. These distinctions exist to promote the martial organization of Normandy. Amongst Heathen Tribesmen or when together with other tribes, arrungs are usually simplified to the common ones to avoid confusion.

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