Note 341 — Chapter IV · THE EALDORMAN OR DUKE.
Reading edition
The highest rank, that is the ealdorman’s, appears to have implied the absolute possession of land to the amount of 40 hides, or 1200 acres. See Hist. Eliens. ii. 40: “Sed quoniam ille 40 hidarum terrae dominium minime obtineret, licet nobilis esset, inter proceres tunc nominari non potuit,” etc. The charters show what large estates were devised by many of these ealdormen.