> You are assuming thanes have a significantly different lifestyle
> from the typical carl or cottar. I don't think that's true, about
> the only way you'd pick out a thane in normal working clothes is
> details like a metal belt buckle rather than just a tied belt.
<snip>
I do indeed. It has been said that devotees are exceptional people who must be supported by the clan since they don't have enough time and opportunity to lead a normal life (that of a carl). I think thanes are such specialists, and even those that are initiates don't really have the time to be out there plowing the fields and milking cattle. No doubt they do some of that, but their primary responsibilities lie elsewhere.
On the other hand, I think I understand what you mean. Now that I've thought about this a bit more, I think the communal model fits well within steads, families and bloodlines. The thanes, as the heads of bloodlines (and the heads of families in smaller steads) make the decisions regarding wealth. The thane is well off, and has nice things, but the level of personal extravagance is less than it would be in a true feodal society.
> >The warrior-noble logic seems to fit the society quite well.
>
> It's *a* social structure that fits that level of technology but
> not the only one. Given that the ultimate authority is the clan
> moot which appoints the ring to take routine decisions a warrior
> nobility isn't right. Nor is it some socialist utopia but the
> direct origin of parliamentary democracy. Tracing a direct line
> from the Viking "thing" via the Manx parliament to the English
> parliament.
I hear you. I'm coming at this from a slightly different angle (thinking how many thanes, huscarls and warriors a clan supports, and how the wealth for this is generated and distributed), but I'm not forgetting that the power and position isn't permanent or hereditary.
<snip>
> I suspect the major players in clan politics already live in the
> chieftain's village, certainly some members of their bloodline
> will do. I can see two alternatives, one is a largely ceremonial
> hall which no one actually lives in. The other is that the main
> bloodlines all have a hall in that village and the chief uses
> his bloodline's hall.
The imagery of the huge central longhouse (again, see Saxons! book) is so central that at least for me it's obvious that there is the "chieftain's hall" where the chief goes to live, and where he/she recieves guests and keeps huscarls and other guests.
> >I'd also say that a farmer pays taxes both to his/her local thane, as
> >well as to the clan's communal larders.
>
> We're Orlanthi, we don't pay taxes. We contribute to the clan's
> stores to support a few weaponthanes and other necessary expenses.
> We also pay tribute to the Lunars because our Ring has persuaded
> us we're not yet strong enough to send them packing.
Indeed. :)
-Adept
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