Witan

The witan (lit. 'wise men') was the king's council in the Anglo-Saxon government of England from before the 7th century until the 11th century. It comprised important noblemen, including ealdormen, thegns, and bishops. Meetings of the witan were sometimes called the witenagemot. Its primary function was to advise the king on legislation, judicial cases, land transfers, and other matters of national importance. The witan may have elected new kings from among members of the ruling dynasty. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, these roles were performed by a similar council known as the curia regis. Before the 20th century, many historians considered the witan to be a proto-parliament, an institution both democratic and representative, and in substance an ancestor of the Parliament of England. Later historical interpretation, however, has emphasised the witan's ad hoc and essentially royal nature.