Landscape, law and justice as longue durée history – Norwegian medieval laws and their long-term legacy

Norway celebrated in 2024 the 750th anniversary of Magnus the Lawmender’s Law of the Realm or Magnus Code. Norway was the third realm in medieval Europe to promulgate a unified law code for the whole land and the first where it was effective. The code was derived from case law in older medieval provincial laws, Canon Law and new royal legislation. It remained in force, with modifications, until 1687, and some provisions are recognisable in present-day law. This article explores how landscape, law and justice were interrelated in Norway’s medieval laws, and how far continuing aspects of this relationship constitute longue durée history. The article examines legislation concerning land rights and use of landscape resources. Enduring dimensions of landscape justice are found in evolving legislation on rights of kin (odelsrett), land inheritance, land reorganisation, commons, and rights of access, despite the changing role of ‘things’ (courts) as judicial institutions.