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Forced labour and slavery |
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Cyning (king) |
Ealdorman (Earl after c.1000) |
Hold / High-reeve |
Thegn (thane) |
Thingmen / housecarl (retainer) |
Reeve / Verderer (bailiff) |
Ceorl (churl, free tenant) |
Villein (serf) |
Cottar (cottager) |
Þēow (thrall, slave) |
A thrall was a slave[1] or serf in Scandinavian lands during the Viking Age. The status of slave (þræll, þēow) contrasts with that of the freeman (karl, ceorl) and the nobleman (jarl, eorl).