Editing Saxons (section)

===Social structure===
[[Bede]], a [[Northumbria]]n writing around the year 730, remarks that "the old (that is, the continental) Saxons have no king, but they are governed by several [[satraps]] who, during war, cast lots for leadership but who, in time of peace, are equal in power." The {{Lang|la|regnum Saxonum}} was divided into three provinces&nbsp;– [[Westphalia]], [[Eastphalia]] and [[Angria]]&nbsp;– which comprised about one hundred ''pagi'' or ''[[Gau (country subdivision)|Gaue]]''. Each ''Gau'' had its own satrap with enough military power to level whole villages that opposed him.{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=473}}

In the mid-9th century, [[Nithard]] first described the social structure of the Saxons beneath their leaders. The caste structure was rigid; in the [[Old Saxon|Saxon language]] the three castes, excluding slaves, were called the {{Lang|osx|edhilingui}} (related to the term ''[[aetheling]]''), {{Lang|osx|frilingi}} and {{Lang|osx|lazzi}}. These terms were subsequently [[Latinisation of names|Latinised]] as {{Lang|la|nobiles}} or {{Lang|la|nobiliores}}; {{Lang|la|[[ingenui]]}}, {{Lang|la|ingenuiles}} or {{Lang|la|liberi}}; and {{Lang|la|liberti}}, {{Lang|la|liti}} or {{Lang|la|serviles}}.{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=471}} According to very early traditions that are presumed to contain a good deal of historical truth, the {{Lang|osx|edhilingui}} were the descendants of the Saxons who led the tribe out of [[Holstein]] and during the migrations of the sixth century.{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=471}} They were a conquering warrior elite. The ''{{Lang|osx|frilingi}}'' represented the descendants of the {{Lang|la|amicii}}, {{Lang|la|auxiliarii}} and {{Lang|la|manumissi}} of that caste. The {{Lang|osx|lazzi}} represented the descendants of the original inhabitants of the conquered territories, who were forced to make oaths of submission and pay tribute to the ''{{Lang|osx|edhilingui}}''.

The ''[[Lex Saxonum]]'' regulated the Saxons' different society. Intermarriage between the castes was forbidden by the Lex Saxonum, and [[wergild]]s were set based upon caste membership. The ''{{Lang|osx|edhilingui}}'' were worth 1,440 [[solidi]], or about 700 head of cattle, the highest wergild on the continent; the price of a bride was also very high. This was six times as much as that of the ''{{Lang|osx|frilingi}}'' and eight times as much as the ''{{Lang|osx|lazzi}}''. The gulf between noble and ignoble was very large, but the difference between a freeman and an indentured labourer was small.{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=472}}

According to the {{Lang|la|Vita Lebuini antiqua}}, an important source for early Saxon history, the Saxons held an annual council at [[Marklo]] (Westphalia) where they "confirmed their laws, gave judgment on outstanding cases, and determined by common counsel whether they would go to war or be in peace that year."{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=473}} All three castes participated in the general council; twelve representatives from each caste were sent from each ''Gau''. In 782, Charlemagne abolished the system of ''Gaue'' and replaced it with the {{Lang|de|Grafschaftsverfassung}}, the system of [[County|counties]] typical of [[Francia]].{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=476}} By prohibiting the Marklo councils, Charlemagne pushed the ''{{Lang|osx|frilingi}}'' and ''{{Lang|osx|lazzi}}'' out of political power. The old Saxon system of {{Lang|de|Abgabengrundherrschaft}}, lordship based on dues and taxes, was replaced by a form of [[feudalism]] based on service and labour, personal relationships and oaths.{{Sfn|Goldberg|1995|p=479}}