Forseti (which means "the presiding one") is the Norse Aesir god of justice, peace and truth. He is the son of Baldur and Nanna. His home is Glitnir, which means shining because its silver ceiling and golden pillars radiated light that could be seen from great destance.
He was considered the wisest and most eloquent of gods of Asgard. In contrast to his fellow-god Tyr that presided over bloody affairs of carnal law , the domain of Forseti was resolving disputes by mediation. He sat in his hall, dispensing justice to those who sought it and was said to always provide a solution that all parties saw as fair. He was the gentlest of gods and favored peace so all judged by him could live in safety as long as they upheld the sentence. If they weren't, they were sure to be swept dead by Forseti's righteous rage. Forseti was so respected that most solemn oaths were uttered to his name.
He is not mentioned as combatant at Ragnarok so it is assumed that as god of peace he abstained from battle.
Heligoland
Forseti's center of worship was Heligoland. According to legend, once twelve Asegeir or old ones that wandered all the Scandinavia gathering local laws. They wanted to get the best laws from all the tribes and compile them into one set of laws applicable to all of them, thus uniting them in peace.
It is said that after gathering laws from all the regions, they embarked on a sea voyage to a remote place where they could safely discuss the compilation process. However, a vicious storm arose and while at the mercy of sea they invoked the name of Forseti to save them from peril. They noticed that thriteen people appeared in the boat and they safely led the boat to a deserted island. There they split the earth and a spring was formed. Then they dictated the unified code of laws that merged all the best regulations of various local laws and suddenly vanished.
The island became a place of worship to Forseti and the spring was it's holy place. It was very respected in Nordic lands and none dare to make a raid there in fear of shameful death that would send them to kingdom of Hel rather than to Valhalla. It was so holy that no fighting or bloodshed was allowed there. All major legal assemblies gathered there. The disputes were undertaken in the light of day only, and never in winter as it was believed that darkness was anathema to truth and just resolve.
Other Spellings
See also
Poetic Edda
Note that in today's Iceland, the president is called a "Forseti".
