Östgötalagen

Östgötalagen is one of the oldest preserved Swedish provincial laws. It was written down around 1350, though its origins likely lie in much older oral traditions. This law code applied to the historical province of Östergötland in Sweden. Like other medieval provincial laws, Östgötalagen was a compilation of customary law and royal decrees designed to regulate social order, property rights, criminal justice, and family matters.

The text of Östgötalagen is written in Old East Swedish, a dialect of Old Swedish. It provides valuable insights into the legal, social, and economic conditions of 14th-century Sweden. The law covers a range of topics, including inheritance, marriage, theft, assault, and the duties of peasants and landowners. It reflects a hierarchical society where social status played a significant role in legal proceedings and penalties.

Östgötalagen was not a static document but likely underwent revisions and additions over time. Its preservation is largely due to manuscript copies, with the most complete version found in a manuscript from the early 15th century. The study of Östgötalagen is crucial for historians and linguists seeking to understand the development of Swedish law and language. It stands as a testament to the legal systems that predated the unification of Swedish law under Magnus Eriksson's national code of 1350, although Östgötalagen itself was incorporated into that later code.