Flugumýri Arson
Encyclopedia
The Flugumýrarbrenna was an incident that took place in 13th century Iceland
during the Age of the Sturlungs
. The powerful Icelandic goði chieftain Gissur Þorvaldsson
had returned from Norway with the Norwegian King's favour, and had settled in Flugumýri in Skagafjörður
. Flugumýri is an ancient manor in Blönduhlíð, where the chieftan of Ásbirningar lived.
He was at this time engaged in making amends and settling his quarrels with the Sturlungar clan. Not all the followers of the Sturlungar were ready to forgive and forget. On 22 October 1253, Eyjólfur ofsi Þorsteinsson and his followers put Flugumýri to the torch
and clashed with Gissur and his men. Eyjólfur was seeking vengeance for his expulsion from Skagafjörður
and for the death of his father-in-law Sturla Sighvatsson
who had died in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir
at the hands of Gissur and his men. 25 people died in the ensuing fire and conflict, including Gissur's wife Gróa and their sons. Gissur himself escaped death and wrought vengeance on those involved, but Eyjólfur, the leader of the attackers, escaped him. Eyjólfur did not escape his fate indefinitely, as he fell in the Battle by Þverá on 15 May 1255.
The Flugumýri Arson lived for a long time in folk tales, and some scholars believe that it was inspired by the arson in Njáls saga (or vice versa).
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
during the Age of the Sturlungs
Age of the Sturlungs
The Age of the Sturlungs or the Sturlung Era was a 42-44 year period of internal strife in mid 13th century Iceland. It may also have been the bloodiest and most violent period in Icelandic history...
. The powerful Icelandic goði chieftain Gissur Þorvaldsson
Gissur Þorvaldsson
Gissur Thorvaldsson was a medieval Icelandic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson....
had returned from Norway with the Norwegian King's favour, and had settled in Flugumýri in Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður is a deep bay in northern Iceland.-Location:Skagafjörður is about 40 km long and 15 km wide, situated between Tröllaskagi to the west and the Tjornes Peninsula to the east. There are two municipalities in the area, Skagafjörður Municipality and Akrahreppur Municipality Skagafjörður...
. Flugumýri is an ancient manor in Blönduhlíð, where the chieftan of Ásbirningar lived.
He was at this time engaged in making amends and settling his quarrels with the Sturlungar clan. Not all the followers of the Sturlungar were ready to forgive and forget. On 22 October 1253, Eyjólfur ofsi Þorsteinsson and his followers put Flugumýri to the torch
Quickfire
Quickfire or Quick-fire was a type of arson sometimes employed in blood feuds in medieval Scandinavia and Iceland. In committing quickfire, a group of attackers would set fire to the home of an opponent, sometimes by quickly and surreptitiously piling wood, brush and other combustible materials...
and clashed with Gissur and his men. Eyjólfur was seeking vengeance for his expulsion from Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður is a deep bay in northern Iceland.-Location:Skagafjörður is about 40 km long and 15 km wide, situated between Tröllaskagi to the west and the Tjornes Peninsula to the east. There are two municipalities in the area, Skagafjörður Municipality and Akrahreppur Municipality Skagafjörður...
and for the death of his father-in-law 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 ....
who had died in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir
Battle of Örlygsstaðir
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 , and was the largest battle in the history of...
at the hands of Gissur and his men. 25 people died in the ensuing fire and conflict, including Gissur's wife Gróa and their sons. Gissur himself escaped death and wrought vengeance on those involved, but Eyjólfur, the leader of the attackers, escaped him. Eyjólfur did not escape his fate indefinitely, as he fell in the Battle by Þverá on 15 May 1255.
The Flugumýri Arson lived for a long time in folk tales, and some scholars believe that it was inspired by the arson in Njáls saga (or vice versa).