Thing of all Swedes

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The assemblies were held at Gamla Uppsala.
The assemblies were held at Gamla Uppsala.

The Thing of all Swedes (allra Svía þing[1], Þing allra Svía[2], or Disaþing[3], Kyndilþing[4]) was the thing (general assembly) which was held from pre-historic times to the Middle Ages, at the end of February or early March at Gamla Uppsala, Sweden[5]. It was held in conjunction with a great fair and a pagan celebration called Dísablót[4][6]. The Law of Uppland informs that it was at this assembly that the king proclaimed that the leidang would be summoned for warfare during the summer, and all the crews, rowers, commanders and ships were decided[7].

The name suggests that it replaced an older division where each of the folklands Tiundaland, Attundaland and Fjädrundaland had their own things[5]. All free men living in the realm and who were able to wield a weapon had the right to participate, and the assembly was led by the lawspeaker[5].

The Icelandic historian Snorri Sturlusson, who was well-informed of Swedish matters and visited the country in 1219[8], explained in the Heimskringla (1225):

“ In Svithjod[9] it was the old custom, as long as heathenism prevailed, that the chief sacrifice took place in Goe month[10] at Upsala. Then sacrifice was offered for peace, and victory to the king; and thither came people from all parts of Svithjod. All the Things of the Swedes, also, were held there, and markets, and meetings for buying, which continued for a week: and after Christianity was introduced into Svithjod, the Things and fairs were held there as before. After Christianity had taken root in Svithjod, and the kings would no longer dwell in Upsala, the market-time was moved to Candlemas, and it has since continued so, and it lasts only three days. There is then the Swedish Thing also, and people from all quarters come there.[11] ”

When the assembly was moved to Candlemas, it was renamed Kyndelsting (Old Swedish: Kyndilþing), but the name Dísaþing remained in use as the Disting for the great fair[4].

The assembly had a Geatish counterpart in Skara named the Thing of all Geats[5].

[edit] References and footnotes

  1. ^ Ynglinga saga, in Old Norse.
  2. ^ Anderson, Carl Edlund. (1999). Formation and Resolution of Ideological Contrast in the Early History of Scandinavia. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge, Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic (Faculty of English). p. 32.
  3. ^ The article Distingen, in the encyclopedia Nationalencyklopedin.
  4. ^ a b c The article Disatinget, in the encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok.
  5. ^ a b c d The article Landsting, at the official site of the Museum of National Antiquities, Sweden.
  6. ^ The article Disablot, in the encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok.
  7. ^ Söderberg, Werner. (1896). "Några studier rörande Disasagan", in Samlaren. p. 67.
  8. ^ The article Snorres Ynglingasaga at the official site of the Museum of Foteviken, Sweden
  9. ^ An obsolete name for Sweden, or more specifically the old territory which today is named Svealand. It meant literally "the Swedish people".
  10. ^ The month of February.
  11. ^ Saga of Olaf Haraldson, part II.