Vikings: Law and Justice

"Although the Vikings had a reputation for law breaking in the countries they raided and attacked, back home in Scandinavia that kind of behaviour was not tolerated or encouraged ... "

" ...Viking societies were governed by local assemblies called Things. They discussed important political matters, made laws and decided on punishments if laws were broken. Free Vikings were all allowed to attend and speak at these. They were usually held once a year ..."

" ... Meeting at fixed intervals, the things, in which democratic practices were influenced by male heads of households, legislated at all levels, elected royal nominees, and settled all legal questions ... "

"They had a well-defined judicial system and a council of lawmakers (lögrétta), but no king and no one to put judicial decisions into practice. There were differences between chieftains and commoners, but not as big as in many other places ... "