Anglo-Saxon king with his Witan. Scene in the Illustrated Old English Hexateuch (11th century)

The Witenagemot or Witan was an institution in Anglo-Saxon England, from about the 7th to the 11th century. The name is Old English and means council of the wise men. Originally, Witan was the plural of wita (the wise man); but it was used as a singular. The council was similar to the Germanic assembly called Thing.