An unfree person, slave, in Old Norse stratified society.
The thrall occupied the lowest position in Old Norse social hierarchy, below the jarl and the karl. Thralls were either born into bondage, taken as war captives or reduced to debt slavery.
The eddic poem Rígsþula depicts the mythic origin of the three estates and assigns the thrall the lowest heritage from the god Rígr. Thralldom was economically important in Viking Age society and the slave trade was a significant source of income.
Attestations
- Rígsþula, str. 1-20
- Mythic account of the thrall's origin and characteristics.