Battle of Örlygsstaðir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was fought on August 21, 1238 between Sighvatur Sturluson (brother of Snorri Sturluson) and his son Sturla Sighvatsson on the one hand and Kolbeinn the Young and Gissur Þorvaldsson (later Earl Gissur) on the other. The latter were the victors. Over 50 men were killed on that day and five others, including Þórir jökull Steinfinnsson were executed by beheading following the battle. The names of those who perished on that day are recorded in the Íslendinga saga which is included as a part of the Sturlunga saga.

The battle was part of the civil war that was taking place in Iceland at the time between various powerful clans (Sturlungaöld - The Age of the Sturlungs), and is the largest and bloodiest battle in the history of Iceland.

[edit] References

• Jón Jóhannesson, Magnús Finnbogason and Kristján Eldjárn (eds.) Sturlunga Saga, Vol 1 & 2, Sturlunguútgáfan, Reykjavík - 1946

The Age of the Sturlungs
Family Clans Sturlungar | Ásbirningar | Oddaverjar | Haukdælir | Vatnsfirðingar | Svínfellingar |
Goði chieftains Snorri Sturluson | Sighvatur Sturluson | Sturla Sighvatsson | Þórður kakali Sighvatsson | Sturla Þórðarson | Gissur Þorvaldsson | Kolbeinn ungi Arnórsson | Brandur Kolbeinsson
Battles and Conflicts Battle of Örlygsstaðir | Flóabardagi | Battle of Haugsnes | Flugumýrarbrenna |
Politics Haakon IV of Norway | Hallvarður gullskór | Vassalage | Old Covenant | Icelandic Commonwealth | Jarldom | Althingi | Goðorð