The King and His Court

Until the Danish invasion of 865–78, England consisted of many smaller kingdoms, but above them stood the "overking" (warlord), the ruler of Britain. The lesser kings acknowledged his authority, appeared at his court from time to time, and marched into battle under his banner — although within their own domains, they exercised full power.

The king had a unique role in lawmaking. His mere word was irrevocable and unquestionable. Anyone who dared to attack him risked his life and his entire property.

The rules of conduct toward the king applied to the whole court, and even to its so-called "neighbourhood" (the area within a defined distance around the king's residence).
If the king offered his protection to a person or a territory, and someone violated that protection, it was considered a crime and had to be punished. The severity of the offence depended on whether the protection was extended directly by the king or proclaimed through an intermediary.

The Church also supported the idea of the king's inviolability and sacred status. It preached that the king ruled by God's grace and will, and that the Christian king was Christ's appointed representative among Christian people.

From the 8th century onward, the customary European practice of coronation by the Church and the anointing of the king was introduced.
Although the king was formally chosen, the choice was made from a very narrow circle, most often from members of the royal family. Anyone who could prove descent from the royal house could even pose a claim to the throne.

Over time, it became customary to choose the king's eldest son. This line of succession was broken during Alfred's reign, when he ascended the throne because the next heir was still a child. From then on, the king was usually chosen from the older members of the royal family. If the next heir was not obvious, the decision was made by the council of the wise (archbishops, bishops, earls, great lords, and knights).

The king's court was always very populous. His immediate attendants (the steward, the keeper of the wardrobe, the supervisor of the royal apartments, the master of the stables) were chosen from among the knights and great lords.
The court travelled throughout the country, lodging in a different town each time (often causing considerable trouble for the host).

Temporary visitors (lesser kings and rulers from other lands) were also frequent guests at the court of the ruler of Britain.

D. Whitelock, "The Beginnings of English Society," Penguin Books, 1974 (Translated by Ágnes Kiss)