Althing

Althing, the national parlament of Iceland was founded in 930 at Althingvellir ("Field of the Thing"). The Althing was helded one time in the year at Althingvellir and was chaired by the "Law-Speaker", who wasn't allowed to tell a lie.

1215 Snorri Sturluson was elected Law-Speaker of the Althing.

In 1799 it was forbidden by the catholizism.

Restored in 1844, it moved to Iceland's capital Reykjavik.

The ritual formula at the beginning of the Thing to ask silence was:

"Hlióðs bið ec allar kindir
meiri oc minni"
("Silence I ask of all the sacred folk,
high and low ones")

Old Norse: Alþing
Meaning: "General Meeting"

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