What is Shire Reve?

A Shire reeve in Anglo-Saxon England was the royal official who governed a shire or county. The shire-reeves were responsible for law and order the shire, and were answerable to the ealdorman of the province or kingdom in which the shire was located. The position was originally an appointive one, but by the 10th century it had become hereditary in some areas. The shire-reeve's duties included:

- Maintaining law and order

- Collecting taxes

- Administering justice

- Overseeing public works

- Representing the shire at the king's court

- Leading the shire's militia in times of war

The shire-reeve was a powerful and important figure in Anglo-Saxon England. They were responsible for the well-being of the people in their shire, and they played a vital role in the administration of the kingdom.