Page "Leidang" Paragraph 3

The leiðangr was established in the medieval era, and not the Viking Age.

It has been considered the maritime version of the Germanic system of hundreds which was described as early as 98 A. D. by Tacitus as the centeni.

Since Tacitus also said the Suiones had a powerful fleet, it might have been based on the leidang.

However, since all our sources on the leidang are medieval ( the earliest, the Older Law of the Gulating, is 11th century at the absolute earliest, and might well be 12th century ) this is highly uncertain.

Before the establishment of the leidang, the defence of the realm was probably based on voluntary contribution to a defence-fleet.

With the rise of the monarchies, the contribution became a duty.