thegn

Beowulf is spoken of as gold-wlanc, but the typical thegn in Finnsburg is called gold-hladen.

The one trait of thegnship which comes out clearly on the face of our record is that the thegn is a man of war.

The thegn no longer lives in his lords court; he is a warrior endowed with land.

The thegn is a twelve hundred man; his wergild and his oath countervail those of six ceorls.

Then the man who has five hides, and who therefore ought to put a warrior into the field, is a thegn or is entitled to be a thegn.