Definition: In Anglo-Saxon England, an ealdorman was the chief officer of a shire and ranked second only to the king. In administering shires, it was the job of ealdormen to raise and collect taxes, uphold the law, and raise an army when the king ordered. In the high Middle Ages, an ealdorman, or alderman, was the chief officer of a merchant guild. The term survives today to describe a member of a city legislative body.
Alternate Spellings: Alderman
Examples:
As ealdorman of the Shire of Ware, Karl kept busy attempting to collect taxes from the recalcitrant Stubbons family.The ealdormen of all the shires were stoutly supportive of King Rex.
As Alderman of the Sitty Guild of Merchants, Robert Sales had many important duties.
