Gissur Þorvaldsson
Encyclopedia
Gissur Thorvaldsson was a medieval Iceland
ic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir
family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson
.
Gissur played a major role in the period of civil war which is now known as Sturlungaöld, or the Age of the Sturlungs
: he fought alongside Kolbeinn the Young against the forces of Sturla Sighvatsson
of the Sturlungar clan in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir
in 1238 and led the force of men who murdered saga-writer Snorri Sturluson
in 1241, at the behest of Haakon IV, King of Norway. In 1258, he was made Earl of Iceland for his loyal service to the king. He held this title until his death.
Gissur worked actively to promote the Old Covenant , an agreement which brought Iceland
under the sovereignty of the Norwegian crown in 1264. The covenant is hence sometimes known as Gissur's Covenant, or Gissurarsáttmáli.
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...
ic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir
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...
family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson
Jón Loftsson
Jón Loftsson was chieftain at Oddi in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland, and of the Oddaverjar family clan. He was one of the most popular chieftains and politician of his age in the country. He participated in the so-called Staðarmál, in 1179, against the Roman-Catholic Church and...
.
Gissur played a major role in the period of civil war which is now known as Sturlungaöld, or 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...
: he fought alongside Kolbeinn the Young against the forces of 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 ....
of the Sturlungar clan 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...
in 1238 and led the force of men who murdered saga-writer Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
in 1241, at the behest of Haakon IV, King of Norway. In 1258, he was made Earl of Iceland for his loyal service to the king. He held this title until his death.
Gissur worked actively to promote the Old Covenant , an agreement which brought Iceland
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...
under the sovereignty of the Norwegian crown in 1264. The covenant is hence sometimes known as Gissur's Covenant, or Gissurarsáttmáli.