LAGMANNSSTOVA (the Lawman´s house)

The oldest courtroom in Norway
You are now standing before the oldest preserved courtroom in Norway – Lagmannsstova, literally the Lawman’s house – also referred to as The Legist’s House. The building is from the High Middle Ages and dated to c.1220. It was originally part of a larger structure that contained residential quarters as well as administration rooms and a knight’s hall. Sigurd Brynjulvsson, knight, councillor and Lawman of the Gulating (parliamentary assembly), owned the house and the Aga farm until his death in 1303. Sigurd was a powerful man with close ties to the throne, and so the farm holds a central position in Norwegian legal history.

The Lawman’s considerable authority
Norway underwent significant changes from the 12th century and into the 13th century. A state power emerged that was increasingly based on centralised administration and knowledge, and not merely armed force. Under King Sverre, who was crowned in 1177, a lawman went from being an ombudsman, organiser and spokesman, to becoming a royal official. The lawman had no extensive legal power until the major changes came with The Norwegian Code of the Realm in 1274. From then on he was granted a more comprehensive legal, social and political role. The Lawman was now allowed to set court and hand down judgments.

Some of the duties of the village council transferred to the lawman, who acted on behalf of the king. This probably made the enforcement of the law more straightforward. The village council also gained a firmer structure and more clearly defined tasks. Several lawmen, including the aforementioned Sir Sigurd at Aga, also became royal advisers. During this period, the lawmen were recruited from the aristocracy, and belonged to the power elite of the country. They were crucial to the usage and implementation of the newly introduced Code of the Realm.

Sir Sigurd
Sir Sigurd might have received legal education from a university on the continent. He is first mentioned as a lawman in 1285. In his time there were around 16 lawmen in Norway, which then had a population of around 450,000. They had a central role as the king's officials. They were required to have comprehensive knowledge of the law, in order to secure its fair enforcement. As a knight and councillor, Sigurd also had other duties, and he was a vital link between the people and the royal powers.

Bleiediplomet – the oldest documented court decision
On 26 May 1293, a case was heard inside Lagmannsstova at Aga, overseen by Sigurd Brynjulvsson himself. The documentation of the ruling is known as The Bleie Diploma and currently resides at the University Library in Bergen. A replica is kept here at Lagmannsstova. This is the oldest documented complete court case ruling in Norway, and it is a clear proof that court premises were in use. Up until that time the lawmen would travel around annually to various thingsteads and conduct the judicial business at hand, or also set assemblies wherever required. They continued to travel around and visit the various district councils, but also took on cases of those who wanted to resolve disputes, just as in this one here in Lagmannsstova.

Guided tours
Lagmannsstova is open to the public with a guide. Agatunet has fixed opening hours from May to September (check agatunet.no), and the rest of the year upon request.