vapntak (ODan) vápnatak (ON) noun

The closing proceedings of an assembly; synonymous with þinglausnir (see þinglausn). In earlier times this was signified by a brandishing or clashing of weapons as a sign of assent to the proceedings. As a means of assent the vápnatak might a very old institution, some parallels of which have been seen in Tacitus’ Germania. It is believed that it was the custom at assemblies (þing) to make noise with weapons to express agreement, e.g. with a judgment. In MLL (I.5) it is stated that judgments passed by the Law Council (lögrétta) were not valid until those seated outside of its boundaries (vébönd) clashed their weapons in assent (vápnatak or þingtak). The term was borrowed into Old English and became wapentake, which was used to indicate a lower-level administrative district in areas under the former Danelaw. In Norway a vápnatak may also refer to an assembly of weapons (vápnaþing) which was convened in order to ensure that those who were required to furnish arms for a levy were able to do so (cf. Gul ch. 309; LandsL). The vápnatak seems to have lost its connotation of ‘validation’ in Iceland already by the time Grágás was compiled, in which it stands for the end of an assembly, possibly heralded by the clashing of weapons. However the older sense of the word was reintroduced in Iceland during the later medieval period through influence from Norway. In Denmark the vapntak went out of use comparatively early. It is mentioned only in SkL as part of the process of removing someone’s personal rights (fredlöshetsförklaring). Våbentag is also the term used by Anders Sunesen (par. 90) to refer to an oath of fealty to one’s lord in Denmark. There is no form of vapntak extant in the medieval Swedish laws.

close of assembly OIce Grg Klþ 2, 3 Þsþ 47, 48 Arþ 122 Ómb 128 Feþ 166 Lbþ 177 Fjl 222 Hrs 234 Tíg 259
OIce Jó Þfb 5
OIce Js Þfb 5
ONorw MLL Þfb 6
raising of weapons ONorw FrL Var 46 Jkb 2 LlbB 4
ONorw GuL Olb
sound of weapons ODan SkL 145
weapon-taking OIce Grg Misc 248 Refs:

Brink 2008a; CV s.v. vápnatak; F s.v. vápnatak, vápnaþing; KLNM s.v. ceremonivåben, lagting, ting; Larsson 2009, 151–60; LexMA s.v. Danelaw, Wapentake; NF s.v. vapentag; NGL V s.v. vápnatak