Kingsmoots

A kingsmoot, also spelled kingsmote, was a term used in medieval Scandinavia and the British Isles to denote an assembly of freemen and nobles convened to elect a king or to witness an important royal event. The practice was most prominent among the Norse peoples, particularly in Norway, where the Gulating and Frostating laws stipulated that a new king had to be chosen by such an assembly. This election process was crucial for legitimizing royal succession.

The kingsmoot was not merely a ratification of a pre-determined choice; it involved a genuine selection process where eligible candidates were presented. The assembled freemen would then signify their approval or disapproval, often through acclamation or by raising their weapons. The choice of king carried significant weight, as it established the individual's right to rule and govern.

Beyond Norway, the concept of a kingsmoot or a similar assembly for choosing a ruler existed in other Viking-influenced regions. For instance, in the Danelaw in England, there were instances of assemblies where the consent of the leading men was sought for a new king. The institution reflected a tradition of communal decision-making and the importance of popular consent, at least among the free population, in the early medieval period. The decline of the kingsmoot was gradual, often coinciding with the consolidation of monarchical power and the development of more centralized forms of governance.