Nordic Lexicon

vaggubarn (OSw) noun

infant OSw DL Mb

See also: laghvaksen , omaghi

Citation

‘vaksen’. A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law.

vakta (OSw) verb

observe OSw UL Kkb, Add. 15
OSw VmL Kkb

Citation

‘vakta’. A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law.

val (OSw) noun

election OSw MESt Kgb
OSw ÖgL Kkb
OSw SdmL Till

Citation

‘val’. A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law.

valborghamæssa (OSw) valborgamessa (OGu) noun

Walpurgis’s Day OSw KrL Bb, Rb
OSw MEL Bb
OSw MESt Kb, Rb
OSw VmL Bb
Walpurgis’s Mass OSw SdmL Kkb, Bb
Walpurgis’s Night OGu GS Ch. 3

Citation

‘valborghamæssa’. A Lexicon of Medieval Nordic Law.

vald (OSw) vald (ODan) vald (OGu) vald (ON) val (OSw) vold (OSw) noun

Frequently appearing in various translations related to a central meaning of ‘power’, often rather abstract and translated as ‘power (to choose)’, ‘right (to choose)’ but also ‘precedence’ or ‘choice’. From this usage an associated meaning of domination can be discerned, referring both to a privilege and to a territory, and reflected in translations such as ‘control’, ‘authority’, ‘reign’ and ‘dominion’. Another line of usage centres on aspects of brutality, which is reflected in translations such as ‘force’, ‘violence’ and ‘fear’. When referring to a person, these two lines of usage have been translated as ‘proxy’ and ‘rapist’ respectively.

action OIce Grg Þsþ 54
OIce Jó Þjb 16
assault OSw MEL Eb
authority OIce Js Þfb 2, 5
OIce KRA 4, 6
OSw SdmL Conf, Kkb, Gb, Äb, Jb, Bb, Kmb, Mb, Tjdb, Rb, Till
OSw UL StfBM, Kgb
choice OSw ÖgL Bb
OSw UL Mb
control ODan SkBL
OGu GL A 6
OSw MESt Gb
decision OSw YVgL Gb
dominion OIce Jó HT 2
fear ODan JyL 3
force ODan JyL 2, 3
ODan VSjL 60
OSw KrL Kmb
OSw MEL Eb
OSw MESt Rb Eb
OSw ÖgL Eb, Db
OSw SdmL Kmb
OSw UL Kmb
power ODan ESjL 1−3
ODan JyL Fort, 2, 3
ODan SkL 42, 81, 130, 140, 151, 153
ODan VSjL 13, 15, 20, 22, 43, 58, 82, 86, 87
OSw ÄVgL Rlb, Tb
OSw DL Tjdb
OSw KrL Kgb
OSw MEL Kgb
OSw ÖgL Eb
OSw UL Jb, Kmb, Blb
OSw VmL Jb, Bb
OSw YVgL Kkb, Rlb
power to choose ODan ESjL 3
ODan SkL 123
precedence OSw DL Bb
OSw SmL
proxy OSw HL Rb
rapist ODan JyL 2
reign OIce Jó HT 1
right ODan JyL 1, 2
ODan SkBL
ODan SkL 180
OSw ÄVgL Mb, Äb, Jb, Kva, Tb
OSw BjR
OSw DL Kkb, Bb, Gb, Tjdb, Rb
OSw HL Kgb, Äb, Mb, Jb, Rb
OSw KrL Gb Jb Bb Kmb Rb Eb DbI SmbI Tb
OSw MEL Gb Jb Bb Kmb Rb Eb DbI SmbI Tb
OSw MESt Kgb Äb Jb Kmb Skb Rb DbI Tb
OSw ÖgL Äb Jb Kmb
OSw UL Kkb, Äb, Mb, Jb, Kmb, Blb, Rb
OSw VmL passim
OSw YVgL Drb, Äb, Tb, Jb, Kvab, Föb, Add
right to choose ODan SkL 234
OSw SmL
violence ODan JyL Fort, 2, 3
OGu GL A 19, 21
OIce Jó Þfb 5
OIce KRA 6
OSw MEL Kgb
OSw MESt Kgb
Expressions:

i vald fæsta (OSw)

pledge OSw MESt Rb

taka mæþ vald (OSw) mæth wald takæ (ODan)

Much debated expressions without any clear consensus. Most notable are the questions whether they refer to rape or abduction, if the victim’s lack of consent was a prerequisite for the crime, whether it was considered a violation of the guardian or the victim him- or herself, if completed sexual intercourse was a prerequisite, and the importance of a resultant deprivation of virginity, or if the real issue was whether the offender married the victim or not. The laws make it clear that it was a serious crime which was severely punished with high fines/compensation, or even outlawry or death. The victim was not penalized (cf. hor, lægher). Legal requirements concerning proof stipulated proper announcement (lysning), and emphasized signs of the victim’s dissent, such as calls for help (op ok akallan), torn clothes or scratch marks or bruises. Occasionally, for example in OSw MEL Eb, referring to a stolen object such as fruit.

rape OSw HL Kgb, Äb KrL Eb MEL Eb MESt Eb YVgL Add

take away with violence ODan VSjL 56

take by force OSw BjR HL Kgb MEL Äb MESt Äb

take by violence OSw HL Äb YVgL Urb

take forcefully ODan VSjL 25

take with superior force OSw MEL Eb