Concilium and Pagus—Revisiting the Early Germanic Thing System of Northern Europe
Frode Iversen
This article deals with the geographical organization of thing system Northern Europe prior to processes supra-regional kingdoms in 8th 10th centuries, re-evaluating early written evidence. It is argued that at least three interrelated judicial units (referred as civitas, pagus, and centena) existed 6th century within historic areas Austrasia, Frisia, Saxony. Parallels such a tripartite are found Scandinavia Iceland 10–12th centuries.
Journal of The North Atlantic