valdsmaþer (OSw) valdsmaðr (ON) noun

A ‘man of power’ or ‘man of authority’. In Norwegian-ruled Iceland a valdsmaðr appears to have been synonymous with a royal official (ON konungs umboðsmaðr, see umbuþsman) or sheriff (ON sýslumaðr, see sysluman). As such the Icelandic valdsmaðr had a variety of administrative responsibilities, such as convening assemblies and appearing on behalf of the king. After the position of jarl (q.v.) was abolished in Iceland in 1268, governance of the country was said to be in the hands of valdsmenn.

man in/of authority OSw SdmL Jb, Kmb
official OIce Jó Kab 9
sheriff OIce Jó Þfb 1, 2 Kab 9
OIce Js Þfb 1, 2 Mah 26, 34 Kab 1 Þjb 6
Expressions:

valdsmanna by (OSw)

village of a man of authority OSw SdmL Jb

Refs:

Bagge 2013; CV; F; Hertzberg; KLNM s.v. sysselmann; MSE s.v. Iceland; Strauch 2011, 260; Wærdahl 2011, 147−48