In early medieval history, a member of the royal household or trusted follower of a Germanic king, particularly in the Frankish kingdom.
From Old High German 'antrustio' (trusted follower, retainer). The term entered English historical vocabulary describing the warrior-retainers of early Germanic kingdoms like the Franks.
Medieval kings couldn't just hire security—they needed trusted warriors who lived in their palace and would die for them, and these guys were called 'antrustion,' literally meaning 'the trusted ones.'
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