sáttmálanum

Sáttmálanum is the Icelandic word for "the agreement" and is most commonly associated with a significant historical treaty signed in Iceland. This treaty, known in Icelandic as Sáttmálinn, was a foundational document for the establishment of the Icelandic Commonwealth. It was agreed upon by the prominent chieftains, or goðar, of Iceland at the Althing, the ancient Icelandic parliament.

The precise date of its ratification is generally accepted as 930 AD, marking the beginning of a period of self-governance for Iceland. The Sáttmálinn outlined the laws and political structure of the nascent commonwealth. It established the Althing as the central legislative and judicial body, creating a framework for dispute resolution and communal decision-making. Key provisions included the allocation of chieftains' responsibilities, the establishment of legal districts, and the appointment of a lawspeaker, known as the lögsögumaður.

This agreement was crucial in bringing order and a unified legal system to a society that had previously been governed by unwritten customs and individual chieftain authority. The Sáttmálinn is considered a cornerstone of Icelandic legal and political history, laying the groundwork for centuries of self-rule and shaping the nation's identity. Its principles influenced Icelandic law and governance for generations, even after periods of foreign rule.