The Sturlungs (Icelandic: Sturlungar) 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. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Icelandic Commonwealth or the Icelandic Free State (Icelandic: Þjóðveldisöld) 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. ...

The Sturlungs were extremely wealthy and influential. So influential, in fact, that a whole period of Icelandic history, Sturlungaöld ("The Age of the Sturlungs") bears their name. They controlled Western Iceland, the Westfjords and North Eastern Iceland. Sturlungaöld (English: The Age of the Sturlungs or The Sturlung Era) was a 42-44 year period of civil war in mid 13th century Iceland. ... The Westfjords in Iceland. ...

An early 20th century painting of Snorri Sturluson, the most famous of the Sturlungs

The patriarch of the Sturlungs was Sturla Þórðarson, whom scholars believe was born around 1115 A.D. He inherited his Goðorð (domain, realm or area of influence) from his father Þórður Gilsson. Sturla quarrelled extensively with Einar Þorgilsson of Staðarhóll and many other chieftains. Jón Loftsson, a well-respected man, mediated in one of these disputes. Consequently, he was entrusted with the upbringing of Sturla's son Snorri Sturluson, who was to become the most influential of the Sturlungs, and certainly the most famous due to his literary endeavours. Snorri had two brothers, Þórður Sturluson and Sighvatur Sturluson. Snorri Sturluson (1178 â€“ September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Events Clairvaux Abbey is founded by St. ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 â€“ September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ...

The descendants of Sturla played an important role in the Sturlungaöld civil war that brought the Icelandic Commonwealth under the control of Haakon IV of Norway, most notably his sons Snorri and Sighvatur, and Sighvatur's son Þórður "kakali" Sighvatsson. Another notable Sturlung was Sturla Þórðarson, son of Þórður Sturluson, who fought with Þórður "kakali". He wrote Íslendinga saga, the longest part of Sturlunga saga, and Hákonar saga gamla, the story of Haakon IV of Norway. Some scholars also attribute to him the authorship of Kristni saga and a transcript of Landnáma. Sturlungaöld (English: The Age of the Sturlungs or The Sturlung Era) was a 42-44 year period of civil war in mid 13th century Iceland. ... The Icelandic Commonwealth or the Icelandic Free State (Icelandic: Þjóðveldisöld) 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. ... An illustration of Hákon, King of Norway, and his son Magnus, from Flateyjarbók HÃ¥kon IV (1204 – December 16, 1263), (Norwegian HÃ¥kon HÃ¥konsson, Old Norse Hákon Hákonarson) also called Haakon the Old. ... Sturla Þórðarson was an Icelandic politician/chieftain and writer of sagas during the 13th century. ... An illustration of Hákon, King of Norway, and his son Magnus, from Flateyjarbók HÃ¥kon IV (1204 – December 16, 1263), (Norwegian HÃ¥kon HÃ¥konsson, Old Norse Hákon Hákonarson) also called Haakon the Old. ... A page from a skin manuscript of Landnáma in the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavík, Iceland Landnámabók (meaning The Book of Settlement, often shortened to Landnáma) is an old Icelandic manuscript describing in considerable detail the settlement (landnám) of Iceland by the Norse...

The writing of the Icelandic sagas began with the Sturlungs, and many (if not most) of those written before 1280 were their work, or written at their behest. The Norse sagas or Viking sagas (Icelandic: Íslendingasögur), are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, about migration to Iceland, and of feuds between Icelandic families. ...

References

• Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson Íslenskur sögu atlas: 1. bindi: Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík 1989