Gutalagen is an early Swedish (or Gutnish) law book from Gotland that officially was in use until 1595, but in practice until 1645. The law book originated in about 1220 and, apart from laws, it also contains the Gutasaga.
Background edit
Origin edit
Manuscripts edit
The Guta lag was likely written down as a single original manuscript around 1220 CE and has been preserved in eight manuscripts. Two of the medieval manuscripts are written in Gutnish, one made of vellum (Holm B 64) and one of paper. Furthermore there is a vellum manuscript written in a mixture of Middle High German and Middle Low German (Holm B 65), two Danish paper versions, a manuscript with later Danish provisions and two 18th century paper manuscripts in Gutnish. Four more manuscripts survive which only include the law's historical appendix Guta saga.[1]
See also edit
References edit
Bibliography edit
Primary edit
- Guta lag: the law of the Gotlanders. Translated by Peel, Christine. London: Viking Society for Northern Research, Univ. College London. 2009. ISBN 978-0-903521-79-6.
Secondary edit
External links edit
Swedish Wikisource has original text related to this article: Gutalagen- Gutalagen (in Swedish)
- AM55 4to
