" It was during Hakon's reign that legislative power in Norse society was embodied in the Lawthings that were placed in the hands of "representative men."
Viking law held that every free person had a right to peace unless such right had been forfeited. This "sacredness of person meant both inviolability of body and honor: for every breach of this in deed or word, he could claim a redress consisting of a certain amount of money." This concept of indemnity, or weregild, applied to families as well as to individuals. A wide range of indemnity classes existed, each of which was characterized by a different amount of money payment, and a different definition of the parties to whom the indemnity was to be paid.
In Viking law, a high level of significance was placed on the sanctity of the oath, which as was true of a vow, was considered to be binding. Perjury was punished a fine, and by the stripping from the offender of the right to give evidence or testimony at future Things.
In the instance of outlawry, or irredeemab
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