Law of Iceland

Law of Iceland during the Commonwealth (930—1262) was decided by the Althing. It has changed over the years but the legislative body is still called Althing.

Jónsbók, MS AM 351 Fol., Skálholtsbók eldri.

History

Prior to 1262 the law-code was Grágás.

Following the Gamli sáttmáli, Magnus VI of Norway introduced the law-code Járnsíða, which was itself superseded when existing laws were compiled in the Jónsbók by Jón Einarsson (in 1281).

The Althing was suspended in 1799, and re-established in 1845 as an advisory body of the Danish king and from 1874 as a legislative body.

The legislative body of the modern Republic of Iceland (since 1944) is again known as Althing, although it is a representative parliamentary body and not a popular assembly in the thing mold.

Uses of old laws

Old laws are still quoted, the 13th century law of Grágás was used in a case in 2017 regarding an injury caused in a MMA tournament, citing the rules of "friendly fight".[1]

See also

References
  • Jana K Schulman, The Laws of Later Iceland: Jónsbók: The Icelandic Text According to MS AM 351 fol. Skálholtsbók eldri. With an English Translation, Introduction and Notes (2010) ISBN 978-3-922441-82-3.
  • Hans Fix: Wortschatz der Jónsbók. Lang, Frankfurt am Main/Bern/New York 1984, ISBN 3-8204-5204-4.
Notes
  1. "13th century body of law used in case against MMA fighter". Iceland Monitor. 12 April 2017.
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