þríreglur

Thríreglur is an Old Norse term referring to a specific legal or social custom. It literally translates to "three rules" or "three regulations." While its exact nature and application varied across different regions and time periods within the Viking Age, it generally signifies a set of three core principles or laws that governed a particular aspect of life.

These principles could pertain to various matters, such as kinship obligations, dispute resolution, property inheritance, or even social etiquette. The emphasis on "three" suggests a structured and perhaps easily memorable framework for understanding and adhering to these rules. It is thought that the simplicity of a threefold structure aided in oral tradition and legal pronouncements, making the regulations accessible to the general populace.

The specific content of the thríreglur is not always explicitly detailed in surviving sources, leading scholars to interpret its meaning through contextual analysis of legal codes, sagas, and historical accounts. Understanding thríreglur provides insight into the organizational and normative structures of early Scandinavian societies.