in the unruly old (often still pagan) times especially as companions in arms, later more refined like courtiers, a development not unlike that of the thegn or the Roman comes. When the Norwegian royal hird had developed into a formal court, hirdman became the title of the highest of its four ranks, those magnates who were allowed to sit in the royal council (the closest feudal equivalent of a cabinet) and thus had a say in governmental and other important matters. See also Thingmen Druzhina Notes References Further reading Realencyclopädie der Klassischen Altertumswissenschaft: Hird Helle, Knut: Konge og gode menn i norsk riksstyring ca. 1150-1319, Bergen 1972. Helle, Knut: Norge blir en stat : 1130-1319 , Bergen 1974. Konungs Skuggsjá and Hirdskraa. Norse Kings' sagas: Fagrskinna, Heimskringla, Óláfs saga helga. Sagas of Icelanders: Egils Saga, Fornmanna Sögur. Military history of Norway Early Germanic warfare