History of Europe

The life-price Of An Individual In Anglo-Saxon Culture?

The life-price, or wergild, of an individual in Anglo-Saxon culture was determined by their social status. The most valuable members of society were the king and his family, with a wergild of 1200 shillings. Next came the ealdormen, with a wergild of 800 shillings, followed by the thegns, who had a wergild of 200 shillings. Commoners (ceorls) had a wergild of 100 shillings, while slaves had no wergild at all.