þingið

Þingið, or þingið in Icelandic, is the definite form of þing, a term from Old Norse meaning an assembly, meeting, or court. In Norse and medieval Icelandic and Scandinavian governance, a þing was a gathering of free men to legislate, settle disputes, and decide on public matters. The concept spread to various regions, where assemblies functioned as the primary forum for law-making and justice.

In Iceland, the most famous þing was Alþingi, the national parliament founded around 930 CE at Þingvellir. For centuries it met as a combined legislative and judicial assembly, issuing laws, resolving disputes, and providing a venue for representatives of regional chieftains and free men to participate. Law was publicly proclaimed by a designated law speaker, and decisions followed the prevailing legal codes of the time. The Alþingi played a central role in shaping Icelandic legal culture and constitutional development.

In modern usage, Alþingi is the official name of Iceland’s national legislature, established in the 19th century as part of Iceland’s constitutional evolution. The term þ ingið can still be used to refer to the assembly in a general or historical sense, while Alþingi denotes the contemporary parliament. The broader historical concept of a thing influenced legal and political organization across Norse-influenced regions, and the English word thing ultimately derives from this tradition. Þingvellir remains a symbol of Icelandic legal heritage and the enduring idea of communal lawmaking.