grågås

Grágás, meaning "gray goose" in Old Norse, is the conventional name for the medieval Icelandic law code compiled during the Icelandic Commonwealth. The collection codified civil and criminal law, as well as procedures and institutions of governance, and served as the core reference for legal practice across Iceland until the introduction of Jónsbók in the late 13th century.

Content and structure: Grágás outlines the organization of the Alþingi (the national assembly) and local assemblies, and the role of law-speakers who recited the laws and resolved disputes. It describes the judicial process, including arbitration, fines, and compensation (wergild). The code covers topics such as property, inheritance, marriage, debt, and various offenses, and it regulates both secular matters and, to some extent, church affairs within the framework of the Icelandic Commonwealth.

Manuscripts and transmission: Grágás survives in medieval manuscripts dating from the 12th to 14th centuries and exists in at least two manuscript traditions. These textual forms reflect evolving legal norms and local customs across Iceland. The code was gradually superseded by Jónsbók (circa 1281), which consolidated and updated the law for the whole country.

Legacy: As a primary source for medieval Icelandic social and legal history, Grágás provides insight into the structure of the Commonwealth, its legal culture, and the interaction of chieftains, free farmers, and law-speakers. It has influenced the study of Nordic legal tradition and the development of European medieval law codes.