Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Erik Simensen
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.860kg
ISBN:  

9780367681470

ISBN 10:   0367681471
Pages:   254
Publication Date:   09 January 2023
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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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 Gulaþing The assembly The Gulaþing Law The nature and content of the law Origins and composition The manuscripts Editions Translations Part 2: The Older Gulaþing 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 Jørgensen 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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Author Information

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).

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