arfgerð

Arfgerð, also known as inheritance type, is a term used in Icelandic law to describe the system of inheritance that was practiced in Iceland during the medieval period. This system was based on the principle of partible inheritance, where the property of a deceased person was divided among their heirs according to a set of rules and customs.

In the Arfgerð system, the deceased's property was divided into two main parts: the "odelshlutur" and the "fjarlægðahlutur". The odelshlutur was the portion of the property that was considered to be the family's ancestral land, and it was typically passed down to the eldest son. The fjarlægðahlutur, on the other hand, was the portion of the property that was considered to be the deceased's personal property, and it was divided among all of the deceased's children.

The Arfgerð system was a complex and nuanced system of inheritance that was influenced by a variety of factors, including the size and composition of the family, the nature of the property being inherited, and the customs and traditions of the local community. It was also subject to change over time, as new laws and customs were introduced and old ones fell into disuse.

The Arfgerð system is an important part of Iceland's legal and cultural heritage, and it has been the subject of extensive study by historians and legal scholars. It provides valuable insights into the social and economic structures of medieval Iceland, as well as the ways in which those structures were shaped by the country's unique geographical and historical circumstances.