In the Icelandic Commonwealth, the holder of a chieftaincy (goðorð) who led followers and sat in the law council; the office could be bought, shared or inherited.
In more detail
Plural goðar. Farmers chose which goði to support and could change allegiance, although critics stress limits on that freedom. Byock describes the goðar as relying on the consent of the farmers' community rather than on a legal right to obedience. Friedman treats the transferable goðorð as a marketable seat in the legislature.