álög

Álög is a historical term found in Icelandic and Norse legal sources used to describe burdens, liabilities, or charges imposed on individuals, property, or communities under a legal regime. In medieval and early modern Icelandic law texts, álög can denote fines, levies, or other financial obligations that a person or household was obligated to pay or endure as part of law and governance. The concept is closely associated with the functioning of the legal and administrative systems in which duties could be assessed and enforced.

Etymology and usage have been the subject of scholarly discussion. The form is generally linked to Old Norse and Icelandic vocabulary referring to burden or obligation, with some interpretations suggesting a link to phrases meaning “on the laws” or “burdens under law.” Precise origins are debated, and the term is most often encountered in historical or philological contexts rather than contemporary law.

Modern relevance is limited. Álög is not a current legal category in Icelandic law, but it appears in analyses of medieval taxation, fines, and other compulsory charges within Icelandic and Norse legal history. As a historical term, it helps researchers understand how penalties and obligations were framed and administered in past jurisdictions.

See also: Law of Iceland, Old Norse legal terms, Taxation in medieval Iceland, Icelandic legal history.