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Book/Printed Material The Old Västergötland Law. ldre Västgötalagen

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About this Item

Title

  • The Old Västergötland Law.

Other Title

  • ldre Västgötalagen

Summary

  • Äldre Västgötalagen (Old Västergötland law) is the oldest legal text written in Old Swedish in Latin script and the oldest of Sweden's medieval provincial laws. The law was formulated around 1220 and was used in Västergötland in western Sweden. Manuscript B 59 in the National Library of Sweden is the only complete copy of the law and is Sweden's oldest book. The manuscript is a composite of 77 leaves, consisting of three parts bound together. It was written mainly by four scribes and dates to the beginning of 1290s. In addition to the texts of the law, the manuscript contains three lists: of the Västergötland lawmen, of the kings of Sweden, and of the bishops of the Skara diocese in Västergötland. These lists were compiled in about 1240 and constitute the oldest surviving exposition of Swedish history. B 59 has the characteristics of a working book and probably was used in Skara Cathedral. It belonged to Councillor of State Hogenschild Bielke (1538--1605) at the end of the 1500s and subsequently to the national archives. It was acquired by the National Library in 1780.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1290.

Headings

  • -  Sweden--Västra Götalands län
  • -  1220 to 1290
  • -  Law, Medieval

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  "Shelfmark: B 59"--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
  • -  Original resource extent: 77 leaves : parchment ; 19 x 15 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of Sweden.
  • -  Content in Swedish.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667923

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

The Old Västergötland Law. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1290] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667923/.

APA citation style:

(1290) The Old Västergötland Law. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667923/.

MLA citation style:

The Old Västergötland Law. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1290] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667923/>.