Age of the Sturlungs The Age of the Sturlungs or the Sturlung Era ( Icelandic " Sturlungaöld " ) was a 42 - 44 year period of internal strife in mid - 13th century Iceland . It may also have been the bloodiest and most violent period in Icelandic history . It is documented in the Sturlunga saga . This period is marked by the conflicts of powerful chieftains , " goðar " , who amassed followers and did battle , and is named for the Sturlungs , the most powerful family clan in Iceland at the time . At the end of the era , the Icelandic Commonwealth ceased to exist and Iceland became a vassal of Norway . Historians generally regard the year 1220 as the first year of the Age of the Sturlungs , although some wish to place its beginning at an earlier date because of the Battle of Víðines . Power in the country had consolidated within the grasp of a few family clans . They were : At this time , Hákon The Old , King of Norway , was trying to extend his influence in Iceland . Many Icelandic chieftains became his vassals and were obliged to do his bidding — in exchange they received gifts , followers and a status of respect . Consequently , the greatest Icelandic chieftains were soon affiliated with the King of Norway in one way or the other . " Goðar " . In the Icelandic Commonwealth , power was mostly in the hands of the " goðar " ( local chieftains ) . Iceland was effectively divided into farthing s ( quarters ) . Within each farthing were nine " Goði " - dominions ( " " Goðorð " " ) . The North farthing had an additional three dominions due to its size . All in all they were 39 . 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 favour in the " Alþingi " parliament and ( if needed ) by taking up arms against his enemies . The powers of the " Goði " - chieftains , however , were neither permanent nor inherited . This status came about by a combination of respect , honour , influence and wealth . The chieftains constantly had to demonstrate their qualities as leaders , either by giving gifts to their followers or by holding great feasts . If the chieftain was seen as failing in any respect , his followers could simply choose another , more qualified " Goði " to support . The greatest chieftains of the 12th and 13th century started amassing great wealth , and subsuming lesser dominions . This may be one of the causes of the civil war . Course of events . Beginning . The Age of Sturlungs began in 1220 , when Snorri Sturluson , chieftain of the Sturlung clan and one of the great Icelandic saga writers , became a vassal of King Hákon of Norway . The king insisted that Snorri help him bring Iceland under the sovereignty of Norway . Snorri returned home , and although he soon became the country ' s most powerful chieftain , he did little to enforce the king ' s will . In 1235 , Snorri ' s nephew Sturla Sighvatsson also accepted vassalage under the king . Sturla was more aggressive : He sent his uncle packing back to Norway , and started warring on the chieftains who refused to accept the king ' s demands . However , Sturla and his father Sighvatur were soundly defeated by Gissur Þorvaldsson , the chief of the Haukdælir , and Kolbeinn the young , chief of the Ásbirnings , in Örlygsstaðir in Skagafjörður . The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was the largest armed conflict in the history of Iceland — the Sturlungs ( Sturla Sighvatsson ) had 1000 armed men and the Ásbirningar ( Kolbeinn the young ) had 1200 armed men . More than 50 people were killed . After this crushing defeat , Gissur and Kolbeinn became the most powerful chieftains in the country . Snorri Sturluson returned home to Iceland , having fallen out of favour with the king due to his support for Earl Skúli in an attempted coup . Gissur Þorvaldsson , also a vassal of the Norwegian king , received instructions that Snorri be killed . In 1241 , Gissur went with many men to Snorri ' s home and murdered him . Snorri ' s last words are said to have been " " Eigi skal höggva ! " " ( English : " Do not strike ! " ) . Þórður kakali stirs up trouble . A year later , Þórður kakali Sighvatsson ( the nickname " kakali " probably means " The Stutterer " ) , son of Sighvatur , Snorri ' s brother , returned home to Iceland from abroad . He had cause for vengeance , for his brothers and father had fallen in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir . He soon showed himself to be a formidable tactician and leader . Four years later , the rule of the Ásbirnings was effectively over , after fierce battles with Þórður . The battles Flóabardagi ( 1244 - the only naval battle in Icelandic history with Icelanders on both sides ) and the Battle of Haugsnes ( 1246 - the bloodiest battle in Icelandic history with about 110 fatalities ) both take place during this period . Þórður kakali and Gissur Þorvaldsson , however , did not fight each other . Both were vassals of the king of Norway , and they appealed to him as dispute mediator . The king decided in favour of Þórður and from 1247 - 1250 Þórður ruled Iceland almost alone . He died in Norway , six years later . Gissur returns and the Commonwealth ends . In 1252 the king sent Gissur to Iceland . The followers of Þórður kakali were displeased and tried unsuccessfully to kill him by putting his residence in Flugumýri in Skagafjörður to the torch — this incident is known as " Flugumýrarbrenna " ( " The Flugumýri Arson " ) . Despite his influence and power , Gissur proved 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 . Minor conflicts continued throughout Iceland . Meanwhile , Gissur was given the title of Jarl and sent back home to negotiate . Only when the king had sent his special emissary , Hallvarður gullskór , did the Icelanders agree on Norwegian kingship . The Commonwealth came to an end with the signing of the " Gamli sáttmáli " ( " Old Covenant " ) agreement in 1264 .