humble peasants . . . to men of wealth and authority. The common bond between these diverse elements of the free segment of Norse society were the legal and political rights that they all possessed. As free persons, these individuals had the right to say "aye or no on matters of public concern at the Thing" (the concept of Thing is examined at a later point in this discussion of Viking law).
Above the free persons in Viking society was the ruling caste. At several points during the Viking age, these aristocratic families were "partly or fully independent of other authority." In most instances, "a king to whom all the nation owed allegiance would head the hierarchy." The power of a Norse king, however, had always been circumscribed to some extent by the structure of Viking law. In Sweden, as an illustration, the creation of "supra-regional Things" acted as a major restriction on a king's authority. As Viking law was applied in Sweden, free persons had "the right to elect and likewise reject a king." A feeling for law and the necessity for all persons to observe the law prevailed among the Norse. The Norse "abhorred perjury, murder, seduction, adultery, and the violation of the sanctity of the blood relationship." Viking law "were but a codification of the customs of the people."
Throughout the Norse realm, the lawmen "were the most influential and powerful men in the land; they were respected and loved by the people, and great faith was placed in their advice." An extensive knowledge of customs and law was essential to gain the office of lawman, because the lawmen were expected to place subjects under discussion before a Thing in the correct legal perspective. Although a lawman was the representative of the law in Norse society, however, the position of lawman conferred neither judicial nor legislative power. Rather, the duty of the lawman was to "expound the laws to the people....