Page "Saxons" Paragraph 46

In the mid-9th century, Nithard first described the social structure of the Saxons beneath their leaders.

The caste structure was rigid ; in the Saxon language the three castes, excluding slaves, were called the edhilingui ( related to the term aetheling ), frilingi, and lazzi.

These terms were subsequently Latinised as nobiles or nobiliores ; ingenui, ingenuiles, or liberi ; and liberti, liti, or serviles.

According to very early traditions that are presumed to contain a good deal of historical truth, the edhilingui were the descendants of the Saxons who led the tribe out of Holstein and during the migrations of the sixth century.

They were a conquering, warrior elite.

The frilingi represented the descendants of the amicii, auxiliarii, and manumissi of that caste, while the lazzi represented the descendants of the original inhabitants of the conquered territories, who were forced to make oaths of submission and pay tribute to the edhilingui.