Through the signing of the Old Covenant in 1262, following the civil strife of the Age of the Sturlungs, Icelanders had relinquished sovereignty to Haakon IV, King of Norway.
Melalui penandatanganan Perjanjian Lama pada tahun 1262, setelah konflik sipil Zaman Sturlung, bangsa Islandia menyerahkan kedaulatannya kepada Haakon IV, Raja Norwegia.