Tynwald - History of Tynwald

History of Tynwald

Tynwald claims to be over 1,000 years old, and thus the 'oldest continuous parliament' in the world. In 1979, the Manx people celebrated their millennium of the parliament, although there is no evidence that suggests such an assembly was held in 979, or that any such event resembled the modern day court. In fact, the first record of the place-name occurs in the mid 13th century Chronicle of Mann, and the first description of the role and composition of an assembly held on-site occurs in the early 15th century.

There are other parliaments which are undoubtedly older. The Icelandic Alþingi was established in 930 but abolished in 1800 and not re-founded until 1845. The Jamtlandic Jamtamót is claimed to be founded just a couple of years after the Icelandic Alþingi was established, Jamtamót is the only assembly that is called moot instead of "Thing" in the Scandinavian countries; even though it is two different words, it has the same exact meaning. The Faroese Løgting is believed to be older than both Tynwald, Alþingi and Jamtamót, having been established as early as the 9th century and recorded as an annual assembly in the 10th century. San Marino also claims that its parliament dates from 301 CE, making it several centuries earlier than the claims of the Norse assemblies.