þeiganna

þeiganna is a term found in medieval Norse-language sources, typically rendered as þeiganna. In these texts it is used to denote a group closely connected to a lord or chieftain, usually translated as retinues or retainers. The form is sparse in the surviving corpus, and its precise sense can vary by manuscript.

Etymology is commonly analyzed as derived from the Old Norse element þegn, meaning a thegn or free retainer, combined with a plural or collective suffix. The exact inflectional function of -anna varies across dialects and texts, and some scholars question whether þeiganna represents a fixed lexical item or a generic plural form of an otherwise rarely attested noun.

Attestations and usage occur primarily in a small body of sagas and poetry dating to the late medieval period. In these passages, þeiganna refers to the body of men who serve a lord, often with implications of military obligation or ceremonial duties, and it is sometimes contrasted with other social groups such as slaves or paid troops.

Meaning and social context place the concept of þeiganna within the broader Norse hierarchy of free retainers and noble households. The term signals the importance of personal retinues to aristocratic power and fealty, and it reflects how medieval Norse sources describe the networks that supported lordship.

Scholarly assessment notes that the evidence is limited and orthography varies, so the term’s exact sense remains debated. Some scholars treat it as a specifically defined rank within a lord’s retinue; others read it as a broader nominalization for retainers without a fixed rank. See also Thegn, Thane, Retinue, Norse society.