Witenagemot

Also known the Witan, the Witenagemot was in English history an Anglo-Saxon convocation of the land's most powerful and important people including senior clergy, ealdormen and the leading thegns. Summoned by the king, they would advise on the administration and organisation of the kingdom, dealing with issues such as taxation, jurisprudence and both internal and external security. The best-known sitting of the council was that which on January 5 1066 approved the succession to the kingship of Harold Godwinson following the death of Edward the Confessor.

It is considered by some to be the predecessor to the English Parliament.