Gulating

Gulating, along with Norway's three other ancient regional assemblies, the Borgarting, Eidsivating, and Frostating, were joined into a single jurisdiction during the late 13th century, when King Magnus the Lawmender had the existing body of law put into writing.

[1][2] The practice of periodic regional assemblies of leading men predates recorded history, and was firmly established at the time of the unification of Norway into a single kingdom (900–1030).

When Norway was united as a kingdom, the four independent lagting – Frostating, Gulating, Eidsivating, and Borgarting – were the most supreme bodies of law, acting as both legislative assemblies and courts.

Snorri Sturlason’s Heimskringla recounts that Haakon the Good (935–961) took an active part in the assemblies at Gulen, and under his rule the regions of Rogaland, Agder and Sunnmøre were brought into the area covered by the thing, with Valdres and Hallingdal also being incorporated later.

[6] The law covers a diverse range of topics such as enforcing correct Christian practice (including the banning of blót and other aspects of Old Nordic religion), whaling rights, weregild and inheritance.