Sweden had a Lawspeaker a millennium ago who was tasked with memorizing EVERY law. Known as “Lagman” in Swedish, this official was responsible for reciting the law to the people during public assemblies.
Interestingly, the role of the Lawspeaker was not restricted to Sweden alone. This tradition was also followed in other Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Norway. The Lawspeaker’s role was significant in maintaining law and order in the Viking Age and medieval times, and their authority extended beyond legal matters, encompassing religious and social issues as well. They were held in high regard and were often considered to be the wisest and most respected members of society. In fact, the Lawspeaker’s position was so important that they were even mentioned in some of the Norse sagas.
