Om evne og vilje til å sjå kvinner i mellomalder­kjeldene

Sammendrag

The Old Norse term maðr had in the Middle Ages the dual meaning ‘man’ and ‘human being’. If we read Norwegian medieval law with this common knowledge as a backdrop, we find that women play a significant role in legal life in both the oldest compilations of law, the Christian laws – canon law adopted by public assemblies – and in the Code of the Norwegian Realm of 1274. Women as legal actors were not only found in written law but are reflected in legal practice from the 14th century. A systematic examination of mortgage documents show that women were the primary actor in 20% of these documents. Women could appear in public life in most legal situations, also as executors (ombudsmen), but could not, however, take on the role as judge.