The Icelandic Commonwealth, Icelandic Free State, or Republic of Iceland (Icelandic: Þjóðveldið) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262. Iceland was an uninhabited island until around 870, when immigrants fleeing from the unification of Norway under King Harald Fairhair began the Norse settlement in Iceland.

The medieval Icelandic state had a unique judicial structure based on a process of consensus. The initial settlers of Iceland were greatly influenced by their Norwegian roots when creating their own form of government. They wanted to avoid the strong centralized authority of Harold Fairhair from which they had fled, but they also wanted to replicate the Norwegian tradition of laws and district legal assemblies (Þing). This created a uniquely democratic structure that historians continue to theorize about today.[1]

The most powerful and elite leaders in Iceland were the chieftains (sing. goði, pl. goðar). The goði were not elected to their positions, but rather maintained ownership over their title. The position was most commonly inherited, but it could also be bought or sold. The office of the goðar was called the goðorð. The goðorð was not separated by strict geographical boundaries. Therefore, a free man could choose to support any of the goði from his district. The supporters of the goðar were called Þingmenn. In exchange for the goði’s protection of his best interests, the Þingmann would provide armed support to his goði during feuds or conflicts. The Þingmenn were also required to attend regional and national assemblies.