Guta Lag and Guta Saga: The Law and History of the Gotlanders

Guta Law, the law of the independent island of Gotland, is one of the earliest laws of Scandinavia and together with its accompanying Saga provides an invaluable insight into the lives of the people living on Gotland, the largest of Sweden's Baltic islands, in 1000-1400. This is the first time that these two important texts have been translated

Guta Lag, the law of the independent island of Gotland, is one of the earliest laws of Scandinavia. The historical appendix to the law, Guta Saga, was written in the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Together, Guta Lag and its accompanying Saga provide an invaluable insight into the lives of the people living on Gotland, the largest of Sweden's Baltic islands, in 1000-1400. Guta Lag and Guta Saga: The Law and History of the Gotlanders is the first time that these two important texts have been translated into English and combined in one edition, accompanied by an extensive commentary and historical contextualisation by Christine Peel.

In the Viking Age, the island of Gotland maintained its own law and administrative system. It was distinctive among Swedish provinces, retaining its own laws until 1645 while mainland provincial laws were all superseded by national law in the mid-fourteenth century. Preserved in eight manuscripts, it illustrates the everyday life and administrative system of the people of Gotland. Guta Saga tells the story of the island from its discovery by the legendary Þieluar, who removed the enchantment upon it which led to its inhabitation. Read together, the texts provide a complete picture of an island unique among Scandinavian provinces, offering a rare view of everyday people in medieval Scandinavia.

This innovative and timely translation will be fascinating and essential reading for scholars of Scandinavian studies and legal history. ***

Autorentext

Christine Peel gained her PhD in Scandinavian Studies from University College London and is an expert on provincial laws in Sweden.

Inhalt

List of Figures
Medieval Nordic Laws A General Introduction by Stefan Brink and Ditlev Tamm

Foreword Christine Peel

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Maps

Guta lag and Guta saga

General Introduction

Gotland's medieval historical background

Guta lag. The Law of the Gotlanders

Introduction to the Guta lag its historical background and codicology

Preservation of Guta lag

Nature and content

The nature *of Guta lag*

Legal system as reflected by Guta lag

System of fines and non-monetary punishments

Oaths

Laws of inheritance

Origins

Date, place and circumstances of composition

Editions and translations of Guta lag

Previous editions

Translations

Criteria applied for the present translation

The Guta Lag Translation

Additions

Comments to the Guta lag

Appendices

A Comparison of manuscript contents

B ****Chronology of historical events

C ****Monetary system

D ****Penalties exacted

E ****Oaths and witnesses required

Guta Saga. The History of the Gotlanders

Introduction to the Guta Saga

Historical background

Title

Preservation

Content

Oral and written sources

Date and place of composition

Authorship and circumstances of authorship

Value as a source of history

Language

Editions of Guta saga

The Guta Saga Translation

Notes

Bibliography

Index