Samráðshöfð

Samráðshöfð is an Icelandic term that roughly means “head of counsel” or “chief advisor.” In historical and literary contexts it refers to a high-ranking official who presides over a council or provides guidance to a ruler or governing assembly. The exact sense of the term can vary by period and author, and it is not a routine title found in standard medieval Icelandic offices.

Etymology and usage: The word combines samráð, meaning consultation or advice, with höfð (related to höfuð, head, or höfðingi, leader). Put together, samráðshöfð denotes the “head of the council” or “leader of the counsel.” Because Icelandic sources rarely attest a formal office by this name, the phrase is mostly used in linguistic discussion or in modern fantasy and speculative writings as a designation for a chief advisor.

Attestation and context: There is limited direct attestation of samráðshöfð as a formal office in surviving Icelandic law codes or sagas. It appears more often as a descriptive or hypothetical label in scholarship or in contemporary fiction and role-playing settings, where it is employed to evoke a senior advisory position to a ruler or governing body.

Role and responsibilities: In contexts where it is used, the samráðshöfð would typically preside over deliberations, coordinate the work of a council, present proposals to a ruler, and oversee the record-keeping and communication of decisions. The role is generally portrayed as advisory rather than sovereign, serving to organize and guide collective decision-making.

See also: goði, lögsögumaðr, ráðherra.