Saga - 1972, Page 57

GOÐAR OG BÆNDUR 55
147 Sturl. II, 95 (Svínfellinga s. 8. kap.). Sbr. Jón Jóhannesson: Is-
lendinga saga I, 342.
148 Sturl. II, 89 (Svínfellinga s. 3. kap.).
49 Sturi. II, 94 (Svinfellinga s. 6. kap.).
150 Sjá einkum Kulturhistorisk leksikon V, 363—64 (Ólafur Lárus-
son).
151 Björn Þorsteinsson: Islenzka þjóðveldið, 102.
SUMMARY
I- This article discusses the relationship between goðar and their
'hingmen in the period of the Icelandic Republic in the Middle Ages.
revious treatments of the authority of the goðar have confined
emselves to the period before 1100, the chief sources for which are
a'vs and the Sagas of Icelanders. Both are unreliable as historical
j’QUrces. The author of this article takes another course and attempts
o° see what light can be cast on the role of the goðar by the oldest
2, tlle Sturlunga sagas, which describe events of the twelfth century.
e article also contains a short discussion of the periods immediately
Preceding (section IV) and following (section V).
it- Historians have in general agreed that the goðar enforced the
. 'v w'thin their districts and protected their thingmen, even though
iney were not legally obligated to do this. Twelfth-century accounts
th the Sturlur>ga saga support this view for the most part. It is clear
hh St WaS ttle of the goðar to protect their district against
. oobers. But it is far more common to read of the goðar’s intervention
^ e Problems of their individual thingmen, especially by taking over
cases of men against whom some wrong had been committed. It
metTS t0 ^ave 1)6611 a Poiot of honour for the goði to help his thing-
'ty rn ttlíS way‘ 11 tl)e oPPonents in a quarrel were under the author-
y o different goðar, the quarrel became as a rule a case between
tl)eir íroðar.
e laws indieate that a man could plead his own case in court
ticmt'Ut ttle lnterventi°n °f his goði. But in practice this led to dif-
Were16S' pr)nc)Pally because a just cause and correct pleading in court
c e selciom sufficient to secure the execution of justice. In order to
to t °Ut a íu<18ement a strong hand was required, and many had
rn to their goði for this. In addition, it seems to have been far
tra. ? common in the twelfth century for quarrels to be settled by arbi-
rat, °n than by judgement. Arbitration was used to stabilize peace
er than to assure that justice be done; accordingly, the man who