Government
This picture shows a pyramid of how the Vikings were governed.
In the Viking home, society was governed by local meetings called 'Things'. They talked about important political problems, made laws and decided punishments for law-breaking. Every Viking freeman was allowed to join and speak at these gatherings, which usually took once a year.
As they settled into new places around the world, the Vikings often set up tings there too.These meetings stayed important for longer in some clearance than in Scandinavia, where kings gradually took away much of their power.
Law, crime and punishment
Mines at the thingvellir site, together research in book and documents, have already revealed important facts about how the Vikings governed themselves. In particular, they have shown how chieftains and ordinary freemen at the althing and other assemblies made laws, punished crimes and reached major decisions. Like Ancient Europe, they're punishment was mainly by fire, carrying one piece of iron from boiling water and walking 9 footsteps.
Crimes and courts
In Viking society, there were frequent disputes between rival chieftains or other leaders. Often, this led to violence, even members of a "Thing," could be sent away from their homeland forever as a punishment. As judgement, like laws, were rarely written fown, legal experts tried, to memorize them exactly. In courts, to solve arguments, they would normally challenge each other to a Holmgang, their word for duel. They would normally use swords and shields as their favourite weapons. They signaled that a dueler had claimed victory when the opponent's blood touched the ground. To win a duel was regarded to prove that you were right as they believed the gods always helped the right man to win.
Iceland also had five courts to consider serious crimes. Four had juries to decide whether a person was innocent or guilty. Judges a special, fifth court ruled on very difficult cases. These often involved age- old, bitter clashes between the mightiest Viking chieftains and their families. Many of the sagas describe such complex legal battles.
As they settled into new places around the world, the Vikings often set up tings there too.These meetings stayed important for longer in some clearance than in Scandinavia, where kings gradually took away much of their power.
Law, crime and punishment
Mines at the thingvellir site, together research in book and documents, have already revealed important facts about how the Vikings governed themselves. In particular, they have shown how chieftains and ordinary freemen at the althing and other assemblies made laws, punished crimes and reached major decisions. Like Ancient Europe, they're punishment was mainly by fire, carrying one piece of iron from boiling water and walking 9 footsteps.
Crimes and courts
In Viking society, there were frequent disputes between rival chieftains or other leaders. Often, this led to violence, even members of a "Thing," could be sent away from their homeland forever as a punishment. As judgement, like laws, were rarely written fown, legal experts tried, to memorize them exactly. In courts, to solve arguments, they would normally challenge each other to a Holmgang, their word for duel. They would normally use swords and shields as their favourite weapons. They signaled that a dueler had claimed victory when the opponent's blood touched the ground. To win a duel was regarded to prove that you were right as they believed the gods always helped the right man to win.
Iceland also had five courts to consider serious crimes. Four had juries to decide whether a person was innocent or guilty. Judges a special, fifth court ruled on very difficult cases. These often involved age- old, bitter clashes between the mightiest Viking chieftains and their families. Many of the sagas describe such complex legal battles.