The Théodish Ríce was begrounded (established) at Hallows of 1989 so that those théods that sprang forth from the Witan Théod might be bound together as a true folkdom through a Web of Oaths for the sake of rekindling and keeping the elder Germanic and Anglo-Saxon thew of holy kingship. As betold by Wordsmið Þegn of the Witan Théod,
Soon thereafter [the founding of the second Théodish fellowship], Gárman received an important piece of wisdom through the runes. It was the first step to reinstating kingship, and with it the luck of the king for the people. The Wínland Ríce was created with Wóden’s blessing as a kingly instrument to bind the théod, and in the future other théods, to the gods. Thinking the title of king was to be too pretentious for the scale of things at that time, Gárman took the title of Æðeling, or firstborn of the kingdom.[i]
At that time, our fledgling folkdom was hight the “Wínland Ríce” (Vinland Kingdom) as few could have then fathomed that its Web of Oaths would someday reach beyond the bounds of North America. Yet it was not long thereafter, as witnessed in sundry Théodish writings from at least as early as 1994, that the Wínland Ríce had also come to be called the “Théodish Ríce.” Indeed, on the Twelfth Night of Yuletide 1994,[ii] when the Witan chose Gárman Hláford Æðeling to be the Ríce’s first holy king, they did so as “the Witan of the Théodish Ríce.”[iii] To that end it did “name and install Gárman First Lord Æðeling as King of the Théodish Ríce.” That same night and in answer to this, Gárman Hláford pledged that, under his kingship, “with the help of the gods and the folk, the Théodish Ríce shall continue to prosper.”[iv] Moreover, at the following Solmónað, when our Ríce thought to foster a Frisian folkdom, Gárman Cyning did so by granting to it a frumgewrit (charter) whereby it was deemed a “hall of the Théodish Ríce, to hold good until such time as it come to be The Frisian Ríce and its sovereign lord to lord there as king in his own right.”[v]
Since that time, our Ríce has rightly been called both the “Wínland Ríce” and the “Théodish Ríce” in its reevely (official) abannings and deemings. Indeed, at Éastremónað 2021, when the Witan marked out the true bounds of Théodish Belief as being the belief of the Ríce, both names were given in their deeming. As betold in that abanning,
Théodish Belief is the trow of a folkdom, that being the folkdom of Théodsmen. Théodsmen are those bound together in the Wínland Ríce by its Web of Oaths, by its Web of Thew, by its Orlay, and by their love for and leave to the Holy Kingship of the Théodish Ríce. [vi]
Yet over the years, as the gods have given growth to our Ríce, its reach has come to stretch much further than the shores of Wínland (North America). Forsooth, our folkdom now fathoms Théodish hides, halls, shires, and léods in such faraway lands as Engaland (England) and Níwe Holtland (Australia). The folk of these fellowships are steadfastly bound as true Théodsmen through the Web of Oaths and Thew to the Cyning and to the rest of the Ríce. Thus, as it has waxed beyond the bounds of Wínland, we Théodsmen have more and more come to call our Ríce the “Théodish Ríce.” Indeed it is that by that name, the “Théodish Ríce,” that our folkdom is now most widely known throughout Greater Heathendom.
Let none say, however, that we are no longer the “Wínland Ríce.” To be called such shall ever be the right of our beginning. Indeed, ours is a leedly holiness (poetic religion) shaped by scopcræft and, even as our gods are hight by sundry names, so too might there be many right, good, true, and thewful names for the Théodish folkdom.
Thus, may it be known unto all that, I, Þórbeorht Hláford Cyning, Gármanes Irfeweard (Heir), do uphold the aforesaid deemings of the Witan, whereby Anglo-Saxon Heathen holy kingship was rekindled and true Théodishness was warded, and that I give my leave to that thew which has rightly arisen amongst our folk, which is to foremostly call our folkdom by its greater name, that being the “Théodish Ríce.”
Given by the Théodish Ríce’s Cyning and Witegan at a Witenagemót of the Théodish Ríce which was held at Whitthenge Heall on II Ærra Líða MMXXVI. To this deeming did the Cyning set his hand and his Witan give their rede.
Þórbeorht Hláford Cyning
Eðelwynn Hlǽfdiȝe Cwén, in Witness
Sǽfriþ Wéofodþyȝen Ides, Wita
Ælfgár Þeȝn Húsceorl, Wita
Friðoríc Wéofodþeȝn Scírgeréfa, Wita
[i] A Collection of Some Primary Documents of Anglo-Saxon Théodish Belief, p29.
[ii] The evening of 31st of December 1994.
[iii] “On this Twelfth Night of Yule 94” A deeming of the Witan as given by Æscbéam Thane on behalf of Eric Hláford Wednesbury, Offa of Godastede, and Osferhð Reeve of Thundersley.
[iv] “On Twelfth Night, January 1, 1995,” an abanning by Gárman Hláford Cyning. The Twelfth Night of Yule lasted until sunset on January 1st.
[v] “A Charter of Fresena Hall,” granted on the 19th of February 1995.
[vi] “A Deeming of the Théodish Ríce’s Witan on the Heathen Fellowship Known as Ondheim, Hréðemónað 2021.” By Ælfríc Hláford of Hræfnscír, Sǽfríð Þygen of Ealdríce, and Friðoríc Þegn of Æppeldor.