Thane

Thane is an honorary title bestowed upon clan leaders, nobility, or royalty in dwarvish and vrykul societies.

The Mountain Kings, or 'Thanes' as they are known in Khaz Modan, are the mightiest dwarven warriors under the mountain.

Known
In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, the mountain kings are honorary thanes, although not true kings.

Kurdran Wildhammer and Falstad Wildhammer of the Wildhammer clan in Aerie Peak are known to be high thanes, succeeding one another.

Dwarven

 * Dark Iron Thanes
 * Muradin Bronzebeard
 * Thane Korth'azz
 * Falstad Wildhammer
 * Iron Thane Argrum
 * Iron Thane Furyhammer
 * Thane Stonehearth
 * Thane Wildsky
 * Thane Yoregar
 * Kurdran Wildhammer
 * Madoran Bronzebeard
 * Khardros Wildhammer
 * Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan
 * Anvil-Thane Thurgaden
 * Maz Drachrip

Vrykul

 * Named
 * Blood-Thane Lucard
 * Halfdan the Ice-Hearted
 * Halfdan's Soul
 * High Thane Jorfus
 * Oktel Dragonblood
 * Overthane Balargarde
 * Thane Banahogg
 * Thane Illskar
 * Thane Irglov the Merciless
 * Thane Torvald Eriksson
 * Thane Ufrang the Mighty


 * Unnamed
 * Dragonflayer Thane
 * Dragonflayer Thane Corpse
 * Felskorn Thane


 * Voldskar Thane

In the RPG
Ironforge dwarves also call mountain kings "thanes," an honorary title that respects the mighty warriors' prowess and strength. This moniker also recalls the day when most, if not all, mountain kings, truly were kings of the mountains, leading the dwarf clans in the deep caves. In modern times, Ironforge has a single king - but many mountain kings are nobles or other honorary personages, the scions of families whose names and deeds echo through the generations. A thane rules each Wildhammer clan, and the mightiest thane rules Aerie Peak.

Speculation

 * Given their predecessor, position of king and appearance in wielding two warhammers, King Magni Bronzebeard of the Bronzebeard dwarves was likely a high thane, but he has never been addressed as such.
 * Muradin Bronzebeard is also likely a thane but hasn't been referred as such. Instead, he is labeled as a representative of the Bronzebeard clan but had mountain king abilities in Warcraft III.
 * Similarly like his predecessor, Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan, Emperor Dagran Thaurissan of the Dark Iron dwarves could also be considered a thane but was never referred to as such.