Gothi

Gode ​​(Icelandic Godi ) was until the introduction of Járnsíða in 1271 the support of government power in Iceland.

Etymology

The word goðorð, however, is occupied only on Iceland and shows that there has been a special development. In addition, there is a Old High German glosses in the Abba - glossary which translates the word Goting (or cotinc or goding ) with Latin tribune ( tribune, head ): ciliarcus. uueraltkhraft. tribunus. cotinc. qui mille uiros. all were. ther thusunt manno. all were. EDHO camano. ( Eq I: 88, 15; " Chiliarch: tribune who has 1000 men " )

Swell

The most reliable sources on the Godenamt the Gragas, the Landnámabók and Sturlunga saga be considered. In the 19th century also saw the Icelandic sagas as historical sources. Today we are skeptical after the saga criticism and expecting a strong literary revision. The news of the Godentum date from the 13th century.

Origin

At the beginning there were 36 Godar, who also höfðingar ( chiefs ) were called. Their office was goðorð and the associated power mannaforráð ( dominion over men) or riki ( power ). The origin lies in the dark. Most is believed that the power of the Goden have derived from her temple possession. It is also argued that the Godentum was linked to Iceland only very loosely connected to the Temple priesthood. In the Old Icelandic literature the word hofgoði ( Tempelgode ) occurs more often.

Functions

The fixed order of the Godenherrschaft seems to have originated with the founding of the Althing 930. They put the total number of Godentümer ( = Thing meetings ) tightly onto 36. In the year 965, the country was divided into four quarters, and we added three Godentümer because the district was in the north at 4 Godentümern. In the East, - West and Südvierteln there were now three, in the north quarter Thing four meetings. At any Thing meeting included three Goden, and every Thing Association had a major temple. The twelve Goden in the north but should have no greater impact than the nine Goden in the other districts. So received each of the other quarters added per one Goden. In the 12th century included about 100 farms to a Goðorð.

The Godengewalt ( goðorð ) was freely alienable, inheritable and divisible by each of the persons entitled should be Godentum hold three meetings Thing ( Spring Thing, Thing Fall and Althing ). There were also female Goden, the Gyðjar. In the Landnámabók, the main source for Icelandic settlement history, two women are mentioned by name Thuriðr Gydja. In the Vatnsdoela Saga is even tells of a woman named Steinvor, " the temple priestess ( hofgyðja ) and was the main temple board ". In the Edda ( Hyndluljoð ) a Hledis Gydja is mentioned. The right on the farm, on which stood the temple and the law of the temple and based thereon Goðorð were separated. The Goðorð was an independent and purely as an abstract power position negotiable thing. In the Christian tithe legislation, the Goðorð was not considered a tenth of charge.

The rights and obligations of the Goden concerned the state administration at the Althing and the district administration. There was not the object of the defense to Iceland. Each had its Gode Thing people. However, this had the right to change the Goden within their district Thing. The most important task of the Goden was to represent the interests of its people Thing.

The Goden had to appear on the Thing before sunset of the first day Thing. They had a seat and vote in the Legislative Assembly, the judges had to call for the court order and the laws speaker. They took part in the trials as jurors and were also justice of the peace in their own district.

The Goden were but also by their farmers dependent, because these were the only ones able to fend off enemies from the outside. The peasants had their part to appear on the Thing gatherings. Every ninth farmer had to accompany his Goden Thing on the ride. The Goden regulated and the trade. They set the prices from charging foreigners for their goods.

Development

Towards the end of the Free State time set up a concentration. A Gode took several Goðorð, so in the end the whole country was ruled by about 10 men who came from the most powerful families. The direct relationship with the farmers stepped back. Were formed among the peasants substructures of power. This development was stopped when the Norwegian king took power.