valdheimildum
Valdheimildum is a term found in Icelandic and related Nordic-language historical sources that denotes the formal grant of authority to act, typically by a sovereign, assembly, or higher legal authority, to an official, council, or institution. The concept appears in charters and legal documents that specify the scope, duration, and conditions of delegated power. In translations, it is commonly rendered as “authorization to exercise power” or “grant of authority.”
Etymology and form: The word combines vald- meaning power or rule (from Old Norse valdr) with heimild
Historical usage: Valdheimildum appears in medieval and early modern Icelandic and Nordic documents as the instrument
Modern usage: Today, valdheimildum is primarily of historical or philological interest. It is discussed in the
See also: delegation of authority, charter, royal prerogative, legal instrument, Icelandic law.
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