The older Gulathing Law
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The older Gulathing Law
（Routledge medieval translations）
Routledge, 2021
- : pbk
Available at 1 libraries
Note
Text in English, partially translated from the Old Norse
Includes bibliographical references (p. [221]-228) and indexes
Description and Table of Contents
Description
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.
This new edition, in modern English, contains many references to research that has been carried out since the appearance of previous editions in 1935 and 1981. In the Gulathing Law, differing interests are being balanced, and procedures described for solving conflicts. Personal rights are defined, and scales of fines and compensation are set up, graded according to the gravity of the insult, offence, and the social status of the persons involved. Large parts of the law text mirror the internal conditions in the farming community of Western Norway in the High Middle Ages; economic transactions, disputes, damage to life and property, and theft.
Accompanied by a translator's introduction and a commentary essay which place the Gulathing Law in a theological and church history perspective, this volume will be useful for both students and specialists of medieval Norwegian legal history and medieval Scandinavian law.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Translator's introduction
Norway in the thirteenth century
Population, livelihood, geography
Social structure
Economic structure
The Church
Political structure
The Gulathing
The assembly
The Gulathing Law
The nature and content of the law
Origins and composition
The manuscripts
Editions
Translations
Part 2: The Older Gulathing Law according to DonVar 137 4to
I The Book on Christian Law (Chapters 1-33)
The Gulathing Law in a Theological and Church History Perspective. A commentary essay by Torstein Jorgensen
II The Book on Contracts (Chapters 34-50)
III The Marriage of Women (Chapters 51-56)
IV Freedman's Law (Chapters 57-71)
V The Book on Tenancy (Chapters 72-102)
VI The Book on Inheritance (Chapters 103-130)
VII Summons to an Assembly (Chapters 131-147)
VIII Amendments (Chapter 148)
IX Rules for Whaling (Chapters 149-150)
X Concerning Personal Rights (Chapters 151-252)
XI The Book on Theft (Chapters 253-264)
XII The Redemption of Odal-land (Chapters 265-294)
XIII The Book on the Naval Levy (Chapters 295-315)
XIV A Later System of Wergild (Chapters 316-319)
XV Peace Pledge (Chapter 320)
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