Meet the Middle Ages
BackThe Country Law of Magnus Eriksson
Around 1350, a common law for all Sweden was issued, "Magnus Erikssons Landslag", or "the Country Law of Magnus Eriksson". Earlier, all provinces had had their own laws, but from now on the same law applied to everyone in the country. King Magnus Eriksson took the initiative of making the law. The greatest law experts in the country met to discuss it. After many meetings the law was completed and taken down in writing.
The law describes:
- How to elect the King and how noblemen and knights shall serve the King
- How to propose and how to arrange a wedding feast
- How to divide legacies
- How to buy and sell land
- How to build houses, mills and bridges, how to arrange hunts of wolves and how to catch squirrels
- How to choose the Chief Judge and County Court Judge
- How to judge murder, assault, rape and theft
The law did not say how the churches and the rectories should be built or taken care of. In such matters, the old provincial laws still applied.