Sturlunga saga
Overview
Norse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
by various authors from the 12th and 13th centuries; it was assembled ca. 1300. It mostly deals with the story of the Sturlungs
Sturlungs
The Sturlungs were a powerful family clan in medieval mid-13th century Iceland, in the time of the Icelandic Commonwealth. Their story is partly told in Sturlunga saga, and members of the clan were significant participants in the civil war of the Sturlungaöld.The Sturlungs were extremely wealthy...
, a powerful family clan during the Sturlungaöld period of the Icelandic Commonwealth
Icelandic Commonwealth
The Icelandic Commonwealth, Icelandic Free State, or Republic of Iceland was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262...
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Sturlunga saga begins with the legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
of Geirmundr heljarskinn, a regional ruler in late 9th century Norway, who moves to Iceland to escape the growing power of King Harald Finehair
Harald I of Norway
Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair , , son of Halfdan the Black, was the first king of Norway.-Background:Little is known of the historical Harald...
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