Medieval Iceland

The history of medieval Europe is incomplete if it does not take Iceland into account. Jesse Byock's reassessment of medieval Iceland uses all the available sources--the medieval Icelanders' historical writings, extensive saga literature, and intricate laws--to explore the way Iceland's social order functioned.

Acknowledgments

ix

Spelling and Pronunciation

xi

Introduction

1

(13)

Approach and Organization

12

(2)

Historical and Legal Sources

14

(17)

The Family and Sturlunga Sagas

31

(20)

The Sturlunga Compilation

31

(4)

The Family Sagas

35

(13)

Conclusions

48

(3)

Evolution of a New Society

51

(26)

The Effect of Emigrating from Europe

52

(3)

The Settlement of the Land and the Establishment of Order

55

(16)

Change and Continuity

71

(6)

Sources of the Chieftains' Wealth

77

(26)

Background Information

78

(3)

Sources of Income Available Only to Chieftains

81

(10)

Sources of Income Available to All Freemen

91

(10)

Summary

101

(2)

Consensual Governance

103

(34)

The Flexibility of the Gooi-Thingman Relationship

111

(13)

Advocacy, Vinfengi, and Kinship

124

(11)

Summary

135

(2)

Integration of the Church

137

(28)

The Conversion

138

(5)

The Developing Church

143

(4)

The Church and Secular Authority

147

(7)

Bishops and Priests

154

(11)

Farmers under Duress: A Lucrative Source of Wealth

165

(18)

Acquisition of Property in the Family Sagas

168

(5)

Inheritance Claims in Sturlunga Saga

173

(10)

Limitations on a Chieftain's Ambitions

183

(20)

Arnkell's Quest for Wealth and Power

187

(16)

Vinfengi: A Mechanism of Power

203

(18)

Summary

220

(1)

Conclusion

221

(2)

Sources of Epigraphs

223

(2)

Abbreviations

225

(2)

Bibliography

227

(22)

Index

249

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Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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Medieval Iceland

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License