Anglo-Saxon concepts of “wyrd”
and “comitatus”
comitatus
• “According to the Anglo-Saxon code of the comitatus,
warriors must defend their lord to the death. Thus, a
true hero would worry more about showing fear or
being disloyal than dying.” (Holt TE p.35)
• “Under the Anglo-Saxon code of comitatus, a leader
rewarded his followers with gold and riches and
expected loyalty in return.” (Holt TE p.36)
• Warriors commit loyalty & military service to leader
• Leader commits loyalty & economic/legal protection
to warriors.
• Warriors will protect king/leader at all costs – even
giving up their own lives.
wyrd
WYRD = the Anglo-Saxon and pagan idea of FATE (that
“an impersonal force predetermines the outcome of
events in a person’s life” [p. 33])
“A hero could postpone death through personal
bravery but … fate would eventually win.” (TE p.35)