Norðleoda laga is a set of laws apparently pertaining to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. Mention of a Northumbrian king suggests that the text originates before the mid-tenth century, when Northumbria ceased to be an independent kingdom. The text comprises a list of the wergelds payable on the killing of people of different social statuses,[1] with the following values:[2]

Rank Thrymsa
King 30,000
Archbishop/aetheling 15,000
Bishop/ealdorman 8,000
Hold/high-reeve 4,000
Mass-thegn/secular thegn 2,000
Prospering ceorl 2,000
Ceorl 200
Prospering Welshman 120s.
Non-prospering Welshman 80s.
Landless Welshman 70s.

Editions and translations

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References

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  1. ^ "Early English Laws: Norðleoda laga (Norðleod)". www.earlyenglishlaws.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. ^ Whitelock, Dorothy (1996). English Historical Documents, 500-1042. Psychology Press. p. 477. ISBN 978-0-415-14366-0. Retrieved 30 April 2020.