Age of the Sturlungs

This period is marked by the conflicts of local chieftains, goðar, who amassed followers and fought wars, and is named for the Sturlungs, the most powerful family clan in Iceland at the time.

The Goði-chieftains protected the farmers in their territory and exacted compensation or vengeance if their followers' rights were violated.

In exchange, the farmers pledged their support to the Goði, both by voting in his favor in the Alþingi parliament and (if needed) by taking up arms against his enemies.

The chieftains had to demonstrate their qualities as leaders, either by giving gifts to their followers or by holding great feasts.

The greatest chieftains of the 12th and 13th century started amassing great wealth and subsuming lesser dominions.

The Age of the Sturlungs began in 1220, when Snorri Sturluson, chieftain of the Sturlungar family clan and one of the great Icelandic saga writers, became a vassal of Haakon IV of Norway.

Sturla was more aggressive: he sent his uncle back to Norway and started warring with the chieftains who refused to accept the king's demands.

Snorri Sturluson returned home to Iceland, having fallen out of favor with the king because of his support for Earl Skúli in an attempted coup.

Despite his influence and power, Gissur was unable to find the leader of the arsonists and was forced to return to Norway in 1254 to bear the censure of the king, who was displeased with his failure in bringing Iceland under the Norwegian throne.

Only when the king had sent his special emissary, Hallvarður gullskór ("Goldenshoes"), did the Icelanders agree on Norwegian kingship.