At these meetings, the men present discussed current problems in their areas and resolved any individual complaints. The legislature of Alþing was the Council of Laws (lögretta), consisting of the heads of the administrative regions ( goðar) and their advisers. These meetings could be local, regional, or, in the case of Iceland, national (Alþing).Īlþing's first meeting in Iceland was in 930, and it is actually the oldest national assembly in Europe. Thus, sources say that throughout the Nordic countries (mostly once a year), Government Assemblies, known as "Thing" ( þing), met in the open. In addition, there are numerous other Icelandic sagas in which the laws of the Norsemen are described in detail. The most famous manuscript on the law in Iceland is the book "Grágás."Īlthough this book was written several centuries after the Viking Age, it is believed that some of the laws described in it are identical to those applied during the Viking rule. There is most information about Viking laws in Iceland because there are the most records about it. We need to emphasize that the laws and legal procedures were not the same in all Scandinavian countries.Īlso, during the Viking Age, the laws changed, evolved and adapted to the changes dictated by the time in which the Vikings lived. What Were the Viking laws in the Viking Age? Laws were oral and were first recorded 1117-1118 after the Viking Age ended.Īccording to sagas and records created after the Viking era, the Vikings successfully enforced their laws, and here is how. The legal actions of the Vikings are described in some sagas, however, it is true that the Norse men never bothered to document their laws. This system of beliefs the Vikings followed proves that they were much more than chaotic and violent warriors living without rules. Simply put, giving up was not an option for any Viking. PerseveranceĪnd for the end, perseverance remains. Given the time in which the Vikings lived, it is clear that it took a great deal of self-confidence for an individual to fight for his place in the community. Self-ConfidenceĪs the penultimate trait that was obligatory in the life of a Viking is self-confidence. So, another trait that has found its place in the code is diligence. DedicationĪlso, the Vikings believed that everything that is valuable should be done with great dedication. Therefore, they were obliged by the code to treat everyone with dignity and kindness. The Vikings believed that mistreatment of a guest could anger the gods. HospitalityĪlthough the Vikings were often portrayed as savages, hospitality also made up the Viking Code. Accordingly, discipline, that is, self-discipline, was one of the nine noble qualities. DisciplineĪlso, an individual was always expected to follow Viking beliefs, no matter how difficult it was at the time. Therefore, fidelity is another trait that has found its place in the Viking Code. It was also important for the Vikings to be loyal to their family and friends. In Viking times, being honorable meant being loyal to your beliefs. Given that the code of honor itself was created to protect the individual's reputation, it is clear that honor was a very important trait for the Vikings. Therefore, the Vikings expected every member of society always to tell the truth. Lying, according to the Vikings, was one of the most severe offenses. TruthĪfter courage, the next trait in the code is truth. Instead, the Vikings were expected to show courage in every aspect of their lives and to fight for what they believed in at the cost of death. This is not so surprising considering the reputation that accompanies Viking warriors.Ĭourage in the Viking Age did not only mean facing fears, taking up weapons, and going to war. The first of the nine qualities was courage. The mentioned code of honor consisted of the so-called "Nine Noble Virtues" that every member of the Viking community had to adhere to. This required the development of principles and norms that would govern relations between members of the Viking community, as well as the interaction of Vikings and other nations.Īccordingly, the Vikings developed a complex code of honor by whose rules they lived. The primary concern of the Nordic people was the survival of their race. These laws are similar to what we call family and even property laws today and were a Viking society at the time. Therefore, in order to protect themselves, their property, and their rights to their culture and religion, the Norse men developed their own legal system and passed laws. Vikings strictly respected the honor of an individual. And not only that, Viking law is one of the most important legacies from the dark Nordic era. However, the law and the "government" did exist in the Viking Age. Talking about the law and the people known for their rudeness and aggression may seem unthinkable at first glance.
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