Nosova, E. S. Iceland Lawspeakers in the Age of Sagas

Abstract: The article analyzes the procedure for electing a lawspeaker, the first person in early mediaeval Iceland. The author of the article describes the main ethical requirements for a lawspeaker as well as his main powers and responsibilities. A position of a lawspeaker (lögsogumaðr) in mediaeval Iceland was a bright phenomenon compared to the other social and political development of Scandinavian countries. Formation of state institutions in Denmark, Norway and Sweden was accompanied with the growing power of sea kings and appearing insignia. Iceland was an exception even though it had close relations with the countries of the Western Scandinavian group. At the end of the article the author concludes that dualism was typical for a position of a lawspeaker just like for the state management system of Iceland in general. On one hand, law speakear’s position had certain limitations because was available to all social groups and a lawspeaker was elected only for three years. On the other hand, there was a tendency towards succession of this position within one genus. Secondly, law speakers did not have any legal privileges or preferences. Lawspeakers had to observe the country’s laws and were criminally prosecuted. Adam Bremensky described that combination of rights and responsibilities by saying that “they had no other king except the law”.

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