Ingólfur's Settlement, Chieftains, Assemblies & Society, & Slaves, The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík 871±2 ~ Reykjavík, Iceland
Ingólfur's Settlement
In the spring Ingólfur travelled west across the moor. He made his home at the spot where the highseat pillars had been washed ashore, and lived at Reykjavík; the highseat pillars are still there in the hall. Ingólfur claimed possession of the whole region between the Ölfus river and Hvalfjörður, south of the Brynjudalur and Öxará rivers, including all the Nesses.
The Book of Settlements, written down in the 13th century
*Chieftains
According to written historical sources, Ingólfur Arnarson and his wife Hallveig Fróðadóttir, the first settlers, controlled a huge expanse of territory. The first arrivals could acquire extensive lands, of which they might give or sell part to later settlers. The number of settlers rose rapidly, and by 930 AD Iceland was deemed fully settled.
In recent years theories have been put forward about the settlement of Iceland; doubt has been cast, for instance, on the assumption that Ingólfur and Hallveig were the first settlers. But there are many indications that Reykjavík (or Vík) was one of the first settlements, and that the descendants of the founders were chieftains. But over the centuries the clan lost its influential position, and Reykjavík declined from its important status as a chieftains' manor.
***
Was Reykjavík a chieftain's manor?
Written sources of the 12th century say that the first four generations of Reykjavík residents played an important role in the development of the Icelandic constitution. Ingólfur Arnarson, reputed to be the first settler of Reykjavík, had a son named Þorsteinn, who is said to have founded an assembly in the Kjalarnes district. His son, Þorkell, was Law Speaker at the Alþingi (national assembly) in the late 10th century. Þorkell's son, Þormóður, was "allsherjargoði" when Iceland adopted Christianity around 1000 AD. The position of allsherjargoði is believed to have been primarily an honorary position but it implies primacy among the chieftains of Iceland.
The farm of Reykjavík is known to have been a large estate until the mid-18th century.
*Assemblies and society
Most of the settlers originated in Norway or the British Isles, and no doubt many of them had attended assemblies (ping, thing) in their home countries. At such assemblies decisions were made collectively, laws were enacted, and disputes were settled.
In 930 AD the Alþingi (national assembly or parliament) was founded at Þingvellir, introducing the era of the Old Commonwealth, under the authority of chieftains or goðar. A woman could hold a chieftaincy but had no right to vote at the Alþingi.
In the 1220s Ice and descended into civil conflict, as the most powerful clans of chieftains competed for control of the country. This period is known as the Sturlung Age, taking its name from one of the clans. The civil strife led to the end of the Old Common-wealth, when the King of Norway gained control of Iceland. The country remained a territory of the Norwegian king until 1397, when Denmark, Sweden and Norway were united into the Kalmar Union under Queen Margrethe I. In due course Iceland came to be part of the Danish realm, until it won independence in the 20th century.
*Slaves
The early settlers brought enslaved people with them, among them women captured or purchased in the British Isles. Recent research on the Icelandic genome shows that most of the male settlers came from Norway, while more than half the women were from the British Isles.
Slavery is believed to have died out in Iceland in the late 11th century. The population had expanded greatly by that time, and labour was cheap. Many former slaves became tenant farmers on land they leased from wealthy landowners.
Ingólfur's Settlement, Chieftains, Assemblies & Society, & Slaves, The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík 871±2 ~ Reykjavík, Iceland
Ingólfur's Settlement
In the spring Ingólfur travelled west across the moor. He made his home at the spot where the highseat pillars had been washed ashore, and lived at Reykjavík; the highseat pillars are still there in the hall. Ingólfur claimed possession of the whole region between the Ölfus river and Hvalfjörður, south of the Brynjudalur and Öxará rivers, including all the Nesses.
The Book of Settlements, written down in the 13th century
*Chieftains
According to written historical sources, Ingólfur Arnarson and his wife Hallveig Fróðadóttir, the first settlers, controlled a huge expanse of territory. The first arrivals could acquire extensive lands, of which they might give or sell part to later settlers. The number of settlers rose rapidly, and by 930 AD Iceland was deemed fully settled.
In recent years theories have been put forward about the settlement of Iceland; doubt has been cast, for instance, on the assumption that Ingólfur and Hallveig were the first settlers. But there are many indications that Reykjavík (or Vík) was one of the first settlements, and that the descendants of the founders were chieftains. But over the centuries the clan lost its influential position, and Reykjavík declined from its important status as a chieftains' manor.
***
Was Reykjavík a chieftain's manor?
Written sources of the 12th century say that the first four generations of Reykjavík residents played an important role in the development of the Icelandic constitution. Ingólfur Arnarson, reputed to be the first settler of Reykjavík, had a son named Þorsteinn, who is said to have founded an assembly in the Kjalarnes district. His son, Þorkell, was Law Speaker at the Alþingi (national assembly) in the late 10th century. Þorkell's son, Þormóður, was "allsherjargoði" when Iceland adopted Christianity around 1000 AD. The position of allsherjargoði is believed to have been primarily an honorary position but it implies primacy among the chieftains of Iceland.
The farm of Reykjavík is known to have been a large estate until the mid-18th century.
*Assemblies and society
Most of the settlers originated in Norway or the British Isles, and no doubt many of them had attended assemblies (ping, thing) in their home countries. At such assemblies decisions were made collectively, laws were enacted, and disputes were settled.
In 930 AD the Alþingi (national assembly or parliament) was founded at Þingvellir, introducing the era of the Old Commonwealth, under the authority of chieftains or goðar. A woman could hold a chieftaincy but had no right to vote at the Alþingi.
In the 1220s Ice and descended into civil conflict, as the most powerful clans of chieftains competed for control of the country. This period is known as the Sturlung Age, taking its name from one of the clans. The civil strife led to the end of the Old Common-wealth, when the King of Norway gained control of Iceland. The country remained a territory of the Norwegian king until 1397, when Denmark, Sweden and Norway were united into the Kalmar Union under Queen Margrethe I. In due course Iceland came to be part of the Danish realm, until it won independence in the 20th century.
*Slaves
The early settlers brought enslaved people with them, among them women captured or purchased in the British Isles. Recent research on the Icelandic genome shows that most of the male settlers came from Norway, while more than half the women were from the British Isles.
Slavery is believed to have died out in Iceland in the late 11th century. The population had expanded greatly by that time, and labour was cheap. Many former slaves became tenant farmers on land they leased from wealthy landowners.