þings

þings is a term rooted in Old Norse and Icelandic that refers to an assembly or gathering with political, judicial, and legislative functions. The word derives from Proto-Germanic *þingą and is cognate with the English word thing, which historically meant an assembly as well as an object. In modern Icelandic, þing can mean any assembly, while Alþingi or Althing denotes the national parliament.

Historically, a thing was a controlled meeting place where free men could participate in law-making, disputes were resolved, and leaders or chiefs presided over proceedings. Assemblies were typically held at specific sites and could be local, regional, or national in scope. Decisions were often reached by consensus, oath, or voting, and the authority of a thing depended on the participation and approval of its members.

Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, is one of the most famous thing institutions. It is traditionally dated to around 930 CE, established at Þingvellir, and served as a central forum for laws, negotiations, and judicial pronouncements. Over the centuries it evolved within evolving political structures, was disrupted during periods of external rule, and was reconstituted with constitutional status in the 19th century. Today, Alþingi is the unicameral legislature of Iceland, continuing the long tradition of parliamentary assembly in the Icelandic state.

In the broader Germanic world, similar assemblies existed or evolved into modern governments. The Norwegian legislature, the Storting, translates to the “great thing,” reflecting a parallel origin in the same tradition. The concept of þing influenced later parliamentary rhetoric and topographical names, including sites named after gatherings and fields where assemblies met.