5.5.2010
Civil War and the end of the Commonwealth
The settlers of Iceland were dominantly
pagans
and worshipped the
Norse gods
, among them
Odin
,
Thor
,
Freyr
and
Freyja
. However, by the 10th century political pressure from Europe to
convert to Christianity
mounted. As the end of the millennium grew near many prominent Icelanders had accepted the new faith. In the year 1000, as a civil war between the religious groups seemed likely, the Alþing appointed one of the chieftains,
Þorgeirr Ljósvetningagoði
, to decide the issue of religion by arbitration. He decided that the country should convert to Christianity as a whole, but that pagans would be allowed to worship secretly.
The first Icelandic bishop,
Ísleifr Gizurarson
, was consecrated by bishop
Adalbert of Bremen
in 1056.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, the centralization of power had worn down the institutions of the Commonwealth, as the former, notable independence of local farmers and chieftains gave way to the growing power of a handful of families and their leaders. The period from around 1200 to 1262 is generally known as Sturlungaöld, the "Age of the
Sturlungs
." This refers to
Sturla Þórðarson
and his sons
Þórður
,
Sighvatur
, and
Snorri
, who were one of two main clans fighting for power over Iceland, causing havoc in a land comprised almost entirely of farmers who could ill-afford to travel far from their farms, across the island to fight for their leaders. In 1220 Snorri Sturluson became a vassal of
Haakon IV of Norway
; his nephew
Sturla Sighvatsson
also became a vassal in 1235. Sturla used the power and influence of the
Sturlungar
family to wage war against the other clans in Iceland. After decades of conflict, the Icelandic chieftains agreed to accept the sovereignty of Norway and signed the
Old Covenant
(Gamli sáttmáli) establishing a union with the Norwegian monarchy.
http://netsaga.is/media/files/In_Dark_Places.mp3
Christianisation Civil War and the end of the Commonwealth