Fasteignagjöld

Fasteignagjöld is a type of Viking-age taxation or land tax found in Norse societies, particularly in Iceland and Scandinavia. The exact etymology of the term is unclear, but it is believed to be derived from the Old Norse words "fasteignir" meaning "permanent settlement" and "gjöld" meaning "payment" or "tax".

In Viking-age Iceland, the Fasteignagjöld was a regular tax levied on landowners, typically in the form of livestock or other goods. The tax was usually collected by the chieftains or lawmen of each district, who were responsible for maintaining law and order and providing defenses for the community. The tax was used to fund various public goods and services, including the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

The Fasteignagjöld is one of the few surviving records of taxation systems in pre-modern Norse societies. While the specific details of the tax are not well documented, it is believed to have been an important source of revenue for chieftains and lawmen in medieval Iceland. The existence of the Fasteignagjöld also highlights the importance of land ownership and property rights in Viking-age Norse societies, where land was a valuable commodity and a key source of power and wealth.

The Fasteignagjöld is mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of medieval texts that chronicle the history and culture of the Norse and Viking peoples. While the involvement of the Fasteignagjöld in the Icelandic legal system is not well understood, it is clear that the tax played an important role in the functioning of medieval Norse societies.