The Older Gulathing Law

The Gulathing Law regulates relations between the social classes, the king and his officers, the clergy, and the peasantry. Parts of the law appear to be a social contract between two parties: on the one hand the people, on the other hand the church and the king.

Autorentext

Erik Simensen has been Associate professor of Scandinavian Studies (especially Norwegian) at the University of Oslo. He has worked on Old Norse dictionaries and has written articles on topics of Norwegian language history. He has translated charters from 1301- 1310 (2002) and translated four Old Icelandic texts, including Egils saga Skallagrímssonar (2014).

Inhalt

Part 1: Translator's introduction

1. Norway in the thirteenth century

   1. Population, livelihood, geography
   2. Social structure
   3. Economic structure
   4. The Church
   5. Political structure

2. The Gulaþing

   1. The assembly

   2. The Gulaþing Law

   3. The nature and content of the law

   2. Origins and composition
   3. The manuscripts
   4. Editions
   5. Translations
      Part 2: The Older Gulaþing Law according to DonVar 137 4to

I The Book on Christian Law (Chapters 133)

The Gulathing Law in a Theological and Church History Perspective. A commentary essay by Torstein Jørgensen

II The Book on Contracts (Chapters 3450)

III The Marriage of Women (Chapters 5156)

IV Freedman's Law (Chapters 5771)

V The Book on Tenancy (Chapters 72102)

VI The Book on Inheritance (Chapters 103130)

VII Summons to an Assembly (Chapters 131147)

VIII Amendments (Chapter 148)

IX Rules for Whaling (Chapters 149150)

X Concerning Personal Rights (Chapters 151252)

XI The Book on Theft (Chapters 253264)

XII The Redemption of Odal-land (Chapters 265294)

XIII The Book on the Naval Levy (Chapters 295315)

XIV A Later System of Wergild (Chapters 316319)

XV Peace Pledge (Chapter 320)