Battle of Örlygsstaðir
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was a historic battle fought by the Sturlungar against Ásbirningar and the Haukdælir
clans in northern Iceland. 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 was the largest battle in the history of Iceland.
The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was fought on 21 August 1238 between Sighvatur Sturluson (brother of Snorri Sturluson
), his son Sturla Sighvatsson
on the one hand and Kolbeinn ungi, 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
.
In 1988 a memorial was raised on the site of the battle, which describes the battle.
Haukdælir
The Haukdælir were one of the family clans who controlled medieval Iceland during the period of the Icelandic Commonwealth. Their name is derived from Haukadalur . The Haukdælir traced their lineage to Ketilbjörn Ketilsson, who settled on land in Grímsnes and received a Goðorð in Árnesþing...
clans in northern Iceland. 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 was the largest battle in the history of Iceland.
The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was fought on 21 August 1238 between Sighvatur Sturluson (brother of Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
), his son Sturla Sighvatsson
Sturla Sighvatsson
Sturla Sighvatsson was an Icelandic chieftain or goði of the Sturlungar family clan who played an active role in the armed conflicts in Iceland during the Age of the Sturlungs ....
on the one hand and Kolbeinn ungi, Gissur Þorvaldsson
Gissur Þorvaldsson
Gissur Thorvaldsson was a medieval Icelandic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson....
(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
Þórir Jökull Steinfinnsson
Þórir jökull Steinfinnsson was an Icelandic 13th century warrior and possibly a skald.-Life:Þórir was captured following the Battle of Örlygsstaðir, fought on August 21, 1238. He was executed along with five others, whose names are recorded in the Íslendinga saga, included in the Sturlunga saga. ...
were executed by beheading following the battle. The names of those who perished on that day are recorded in the Íslendinga saga
Íslendinga saga
Íslendinga saga makes up a large part of Sturlunga, a compilation of medieval Icelandic skin manuscripts dating back to around AD 1300.Íslendinga saga has been a major source of material for historians concerning events in early 13th century Iceland. The author is commonly believed to have been...
which is included as a part of the Sturlunga saga
Sturlunga saga
Sturlunga saga is a collection of Icelandic sagas by various authors from the 12th and 13th centuries; it was assembled ca. 1300...
.
In 1988 a memorial was raised on the site of the battle, which describes the battle.
Other sources
- Jón Jóhannesson, Magnús Finnbogason and Kristján Eldjárn (eds.) Sturlunga Saga, Vol 1 & 2, (Sturlunguútgáfan, Reykjavík: 1946)
- Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson Íslenskur sögu atlas: Volume 1, Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar (Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík: 1989)