marktækir

marktækir is a term that appears in the Icelandic sagas, specifically relating to law and social order. It describes individuals who have been declared "outlaws" or "beyond the pale" by the legal system. To be marktækir meant that a person had committed a serious offense, such as murder or persistent theft, and had been formally expelled from society. This expulsion carried severe consequences, as it stripped the individual of their rights and protections under the law. A marktækir could be killed by anyone without legal repercussions, and their property was forfeited. They were essentially considered dead in the eyes of the law and the community. The process of becoming marktækir typically involved a formal legal proceeding where a court or a Thing (assembly) would pass judgment. This legal status was a severe punishment designed to remove dangerous individuals from society and to act as a strong deterrent against criminal behavior. The concept of being marktækir highlights the importance of social and legal integration in medieval Icelandic society, where belonging and recognition by the community were paramount to survival and well-being.