A British nobleman ranking between marquis and viscount, ranked third in the peerage. From Alfred’s time aldermen had charge of shires, but during the 10th century they became more important, with overall control of several shires. King Canute’s dependence on his Scandinavian jarls (earls) gave them territorial power in England over the regions of Northumbria, East Anglia, and Wessex. They presided over the shire court, commanded its fyrd, and retained one-third of the profits of justice (replaced later by King John with a fixed sum). Under the Norman kings in the 11th century shire administration passed to the sheriffs but the hereditary title of earl survived.