A Lawspeaker (Old Swedish: laghmaþer or laghman, Norwegian: lagmand, Icelandic: lög(sögu)maðr) was a unique Scandinavian legal office. It has its basis in a common Germanic tradition, where wise men were asked to recite the law, but it was only in Scandinavia that the function evolved into an office. Two of the most famous lawspeakers are Snorri Sturluson and Þorgnýr the Lawspeaker. Old Swedish (Swedish: fornsvenska), general linguistic term for medieval Swedish. ... Scandinavian can mean: A resident of, or relating to Scandinavia Scandinavian language, i. ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Þorgnýr the Lawspeaker (Old Icelandic: Þorgnýr lögmaðr, Swedish: Torgny Lagman) is the name of one of at least three generations of lawspeakers by the name Þorgnýr. ...

Sweden

The office was most important in Sweden, where each province had its own lawspeaker who was subordinate to the lawspeaker of Tiundaland. The lawspeaker presided the Things, worked as a judge and formulated the laws that had been decided by the people. The lawspeaker was obliged to memorize the law and to recite it at the Thing. He was also responsible for the administration at the thing and for the execution of the decisions, and it was his duty to safeguard the rights and liberties of the people and to speak in their behalf to the king or his representative. It was the lawspeaker who, on the behalf of the people, recognized the elected king when he passed on the Eriksgata. However, after the establishement of the province laws, ca 1350, he would participate at the Stone of Mora with twelve companions from his jurisdiction. Tiundaland is a historic region, Folkland, and since 1296 part of the modern province of Uppland. ... A thing (Old Norse þing; Swedish ting) was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community. ... A thing (Old Norse þing; Swedish ting) was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community. ... Eriksgata was when the Swedish King, before the 15th century journeyed the country to make sure that Swedes and Geats would accept him as king. ... Events Hayam Wuruk becomes ruler of the Majapahit Empire The Black Death ravages Europe (1347-1351) Births Manuel II Palaeologus, future Byzantine Emperor John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (approximate date). ... Fragments of comemmorative stones from the monument Stone of Mora was the monument where the Swedish kings were elected during the Middle Ages, and probably even earlier. ...

According to the Westrogothic law, the lawspeaker was appointed for life by the yeomen of the province. The office was not hereditary, but he was usually selected from the more powerful families. A copy of the Early Westrogothic law from the late 13th century Västgötalagen or the Westrogothic law is the oldest Swedish text written in the Latin script and the oldest law code of the Lands of Sweden. ... Yeoman is an antiquated term for farmers, tradesmen and other members of the early English middle class. ...

From the mid-13th century and onwards, the lawspeakers became more attached to the king, and it was common that lawspeakers were members of the king's council. King Magnus Eriksson decided that the king would influence the appointment of the lawspeakers. Six nobles and six yeomen would in consultation with two clergymen appoint three men from the jurisdiction among whom the king would select the one he deemed to be most fit. This procedure would be in effect until the 16th century when the whole process of selection was transferred to the king. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Sigillum ad causas for Magnus II of Sweden Magnus II Ericson, Magnus VII of Norway, (1316–1377), King of Sweden, Norway and Terra Scania, son of Duke Eric and Ingeborg, daughter of Hakon V of Norway. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

From then on, the lawspeakers only came from the nobility, and it had turned into a pension, in which a member of the privy council was selected and received a salary, but had other people taking care of the work. This privilege was abolished during the reduction of 1680, after which the lawspeakers were obliged to take care of the work themselves, and there were checks on the appointment of members of the privy council. Still, the appointement remained restricted to noblemen until 1723. A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, especially in a monarchy. ... Events First Portuguese governor was appointed to Macau The Swedish city Karlskrona was founded as the Royal Swedish Navy relocated there. ... Events February 16 - Louis XV of France attains his majority Births February 24 - John Burgoyne, British general (d. ...

By then, the functions of the office had become restricted to that of a judge, a function which also became less important by time. In 1849, the office was abolished, but the title remained occasionally in use as a title of honour for governors. 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Norway

In Norway, the lawspeakers remained councellors versed in the law until king Sverre I of Norway (1184-1202) made them into his officials. In the laws of Magnus VI of Norway (1263 -80), they were given the right to function as judges and to preside at the lagtings (the Norwegian superiour courts). The lagtings and the office of lawspeaker were abolished in 1797, but it was reinstuted in 1890 together with the introduction of the jury system. Sverre Sigurdsson (Old Norse Sverrir Sigurðsson) (c. ... Magnus Lagabøte (lit. ... Lagting, literally Law Ting, can refer to: Lagting - the parliament of Åland Lagting - the upper house of the parliament of Norway (semi bicameralism) Løgting - the parliament of the Faroe Islands This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 1797 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... This article is confusing for some readers, and needs to be edited for clarity. ...

Iceland

In Iceland, the office was introduced in 930, when the Alþing was established. He was elected for three years. Besides his function as the president of the thing, his duties were restricted to counselling and to reciting the law. It was the sole government official of the mediaeval Icelandic Republic. He was elected for a term of three years and was supposed to declaim the law at Alþingi, a third of it each summer. In fact, Grímr Svertingsson's term was cut short, not because of incompetence or illness, but because his voice was too weak for the job. Apart from his function as a lawsayer and chairman of the court, the lögsögumaðr had no formal power, but he would often be appointed as an arbitrator in the frequently arising disputes. The office lingered on for a few years in the transitional period after 1262, after which it was replaced with a lögmaðr. The traditional date for the founding of Alþingi is 930 with Úlfljótr appearing as a founding figure and the original author of the laws. After the union with Norway in 1264, two royal lawspeakers were appointed who had an important influence on the legal processes at the thing. The office was abolished together with the Alþing in 1800. Events With the establishment of the Icelandic Althing, now the worlds oldest parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded. ... The Althing (Modern Icelandic Alþingi; Old Norse Alþing) is the national parliament: literally, the all-thing (or General Assembly) of Iceland. ... Alþingi (English: Althing) is the national parliament, or literally the General Iceland. ... Events May 12 - The Battle of Lewes begins (ends May 14). ... 1800 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

List of Icelandic lawspeakers

Scholars are understandably suspicious of the fact, that his first two successors have been assigned a period in office of exactly 20 summers each, but from Þorkell máni on, the chronology is probably correct. Names are given in their modern Icelandic form.

Events With the establishment of the Icelandic Althing, now the worlds oldest parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded. ... Events With the establishment of the Icelandic Althing, now the worlds oldest parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded. ... Events Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus asserts that the orbits of all nine planets were within the same 90% arc of the solar system on 1 February 949. ... Events Duke Boleslav of Bohemia is subjugated. ... Events December 11 - John I becomes Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... Events Major volcano eruption in Mashu Japan Devastating decade long famine begins in France Byzantine Emperor John I successfully defends the Eastern Roman Empire from massive barbarian invasion Construction completed on Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, worlds oldest Islamic university Births Leif Ericson, Norse explorer Seyyed Razi, important Muslim... Events End of the reign of Emperor Enyu of Japan Emperor Kazan ascends to the throne of Japan Births Deaths Categories: 984 ... Events Barcelona sacked by Al-Mansur Greenland colonized by Icelandic Viking Erik the Red (the date is according to legend but has been established as at least approximately correct – see History of Greenland) Lady Wulfruna founded the town that later became the city of Wolverhampton Births Al-Hakim bi-Amr... Events Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary is named the first King of Hungary by Pope Silvester II. Canonisation of Edward the Martyr, king of England. ... Events November 13 - English king Ethelred gives order to kill all Danes in England. ... Events Sweyn I of Denmark begins his first invasion of England. ... Events December: End of the Samanid dynasty in Bokhara. ... Events Battle of Stiklestad ensures the Christianization of Norway. ... Events Collapse of the Moorish Caliphate of Córdoba. ... Events Benedict IX becomes pope. ... Events Edward the Confessor crowned King of England at Winchester Cathedral. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ... Events Cardinal Humbertus, a representative of Pope Leo IX, and Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, decree each others excommunication. ... Events Founding of Marrakech The Almoravids overrun Morocco and establish a kingdom from Spain to Senegal. ... Events Anselm of Canterbury becomes prior at Le Bec Sancho I becomes ruler of Aragon Bishopric of Olomouc is founded Births Deaths Constantine III Lichoudas Patriarch of Constantinople Adelaide Havoise daughter of Robert II of France Tughril Beg first leader of the Seljuk Turks Song dynasty Emperor Renzong (仁宗) Hungarian... Events December 28 - Westminster Abbey is consecrated. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. ... Events Byzantine Empire loses Battle of Manzikert to Turkish army under Alp Arslan. ... Events William I of England invades Scotland, and also receives the submission of Hereward the Wake. ... -1... Events Revolt of the Earls. ... Events February 14 - Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. ... Events Sancho I of Aragon conqueres Graus. ... Events Saint Bruno founds the Carthusian Order of monks Kyanzittha begins his reign in Myanmar. ... Events William Warelwast becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... Events May - Battle of Ucles Consecration of Chichester cathedral Saint Magnus becomes the first earl of Orkney In Pistoia, Italy, Cathedral of San Zeno burned to the ground. ... Events Baldwin I of Jerusalem undertakes an invasion of Egypt The modern book of separate pages stitched together is invented in China Construction starts on the Chennkesava temple The Aztecs leave Aztlán searching for the site of what will eventually become Tenochtitlán and later Mexico City Births Deaths... Events May 3 - Merton Priory (Thomas Becket school) consecrated. ... Events Resolution of Investiture Controversy in the Concordat of Worms Pierre Abélard writes Sic et Non Births Eleanor of Aquitaine at Belin (near Bordeaux) Deaths Ralph dEscures, archbishop of Canterbury Margrave Ottokar II of Styria Categories: 1122 ... Events First Council of the Lateran confirms Concordat of Worms and demands that priests remain celibate End of the reign of Emperor Toba of Japan. ... Events March 26 - Henry I of Englands forces defeat Norman rebels at Bourgtheroulde. ... Events January - Byland Abbey founded Stephen of Blois succeeds King Henry I. Empress Maud, daughter of Henry I and widow of Henry V opposed Stephen and claims the throne as her own Owain Gwynedd of Wales defeats the Normans at Crug Mawr. ... For other uses, see number 1138. ... Events Alphonso I (Afonso Henriques) becomes first king of Portugal Second Council of the Lateran Births Emperor Konoe of Japan Deaths Henry the Proud, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony Categories: 1139 ... Events Pope Lucius II is succeeded by Pope Eugene III Nur ad-Din ascends to power in Syria Construction begins on Notre-Dame dChartres in Chartres, France Korean historian Kim Pusik compiled the historical text Samguk Sagi. ... Events Saint Bernard of Clairvaux preaches the Second Crusade at Vezelay, Burgundy First written mention of Bryansk. ... Events Frederick I Barbarossa crowned Holy Roman Emperor. ... Events Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi in Finland. ... Events December 29: Assassination of Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury cathedral Eleanor of Aquitaine leaves the court of Henry II because of a string of infidelities. ... // Events Saladin abolishes the Fatimid caliphate, restoring Sunni rule in Egypt. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... Events Jayavarman VII assumes control of the Khmer kingdom. ... Events August 1 - Arthur of Brittany captured in Mirebeau, north of Poitiers Beginning of the Fourth Crusade. ... Events April 16 - Philip II of France enters Rouen, leading to the eventual unification of Normandy and France. ... Events Albigensian Crusade against Cathars (1209-1218) the Franciscans are founded. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Tsuchimikado of Japan Emperor Juntoku ascends to the throne of Japan Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor excommunicated by Pope Innocent III for invading southern Italy in 1210 Gottfried von Strassburg writes his epic poem Tristan about 1210 Beginning of Delhi Sultanate Births May... Events Simon Apulia becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Events June 15 - King John of England forced to put his seal to the Magna Carta, outlining the rights of landowning men (nobles and knights) and restricting the kings power. ... Events Damietta is besieged by the knights of the Fifth Crusade. ... Events Saint Francis of Assisi introduces Catholicism into Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade Ongoing events Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Births Frederick II the Quarrelsome, last Babenberg Duke of Austria Deaths Jayavarman VII, ruler of the Khmer Empire Minamoto no Sanetomo, third shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan Monarchs/Presidents... Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century Decades: 1170s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1210s - 1220s - 1230s 1240s 1250s 1260s 1270s Years: 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 - 1221 - 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 See also: 1221 state leaders Events May 13 - End of the reign of Emperor Juntoku of Japan Emperor Chukyo... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century Decades: 1170s 1180s 1190s 1200s 1210s - 1220s - 1230s 1240s 1250s 1260s 1270s Years: 1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 See also: 1222 state leaders Events Foundation of the University of Padua Completion of the Cistercian convent in Alcobaca... Events Ardengus becomes bishop of Florence. ... Events Canonization of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of lost items Pope Gregory IX driven from Rome by a revolt, taking refuge at Anagni First edition of Tripitaka Koreana destroyed by Mongol invaders Births Manfred of Sicily Arnolfo di Cambio, a Florentine architect (may have been born in 1245) Deaths... Events Anglo-Norman invasion of Connacht St. ... Events May 6 - Roger of Wendover, Benedictine monk and chronicler of St Albanss Abbey dies. ... Events Shams ad-Din disappears resulting in Jalal Uddin Rumi writing 30,000 verses of poetry about his disappearance. ... Events Louis IX of France departs on the Seventh Crusade for Egypt Kingdom of Castile captures city of Seville from Muslims Cologne cathedral: old cathedral burns down April 30; foundation stone to current cathedral laid August 15 Births Deaths January 4 - King Sancho II of Portugal, in exile in Toledo... Events December 13 - Death of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IX of France is captured by Muslims and has to ransom himself Mabinogion appears Albertus Magnus isolates the element arsenic Vincent of Beauvais writes proto-encyclopedic The Greater Mirror City of Stockholm founded Alphonso III of Portugal takes Algarve... Events First Shepherds Crusade Births Deaths Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile - Ferdinand III, the Saint King of Castile and Leon (reigned from 1217 to 1252) Categories: 1251 ... Events Alfonso X of Castile, the Wise (el Sabio) Stockholm is founded by Birger Jarl (cf 1854) The widespread usage of torture by the Medieval Inquisition is introduced. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... Events= February 10 - Mongols overrun Baghdad, burning it to the ground and killing 800,000 citizens Llywelyn the Last declares himself Prince of Wales. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... Events Strasbourg becomes a Free City of the Holy Roman Empire First Visconti become the lord of Iceland swear fealty to the king of Norway, bringing an end to the Icelandic Commonwealth Births Ladislaus IV of Hungary Deaths Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ... Events January 20 - In Westminster, the first English parliament conducts its first meeting. ... Events February 26 - French defeat Germans and Sicilians at Battle of Benevento. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... Events May 18 - the Principality of Antioch falls to Mameluk Sultan Baibars. ... Events Births Deaths Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Categories: 1269 ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... Events Kublai Khan named his empire Yuan (元 yuan2), officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty. ...

Source

• An article in Nordisk familjebok