The Formation of the Legislature in Iceland

In the first period of Icelandic history (9th — 13th centuries), the formation of the institutions of its state power took place. They were formed according to the Scandinavian model, taking into account local specifics. In addition to the regional þingar, a general meeting of eligible residents began to gather in Iceland — the alþingi, which was presided over by a law-speaker (lǫgsǫgumaðr). In the absence of a supreme centralized authority, law-speakers were the most influential people in the country, figures so significant that their names served as chronomarkers. However, not much information has been preserved in the sources about the first Icelandic law-speaker, Hrafn Hængsson. The details of his life, unlike other representatives of his clan, are practically unknown; most of the information about him is preserved in the Landnámabók, Egils saga and Orms þáttr Stórólfssonar.

Keywords

Icelandic Commonwealth, legislature, Icelandic law-speaker (lǫgsǫgumaðr), Hrafn Hængsson (ca. 880—949), family sagas, Landnámabók (The Book of Settlements)

Received

14.12.2023

Publication date

15.07.2024

Number of characters

42534

Cite

GOST	Litovskikh E. The Formation of the Legislature in Iceland // ISTORIYA – 2024. – V. 15. – Issue 5 (139) [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/S207987840031588-5-1 (circulation date: 29.07.2024). DOI: 10.18254/S207987840031588-5
MLA	Litovskikh, Elena "The Formation of the Legislature in Iceland." ISTORIYA 15.5 (139) (2024) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840031588-5
APA	Litovskikh E. (2024). The Formation of the Legislature in Iceland. ISTORIYA 15(5 (139)) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840031588-5

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