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.
Medieval Iceland Society, Sagas, and Power
About the Book
Reviews
"Byock's book is a tour-de-force of historical argument. He brilliantly reconstructs the inner workings of an intriguing society, not elsewhere to be found in the Western world."—David Herlihy, History Book ClubTable of Contents
Acknowledgments
Spelling and Pronunciation
1. Introduction
Approach and Organization
2. Historical and Legal Sources
3· The Family and Sturlunga Sagas
The Sturlunga Compilation
The Family Sagas
Conclusions
4· Evolution of a New Society
The Effect of Emigrating from Europe
The Settlement of the Land and the
Establishment of Order
Change and Continuity
5· Sources of the Chieftains' Wealth
Background Information
Sources of Income Available Only to
Chieftains
Sources of Income Available to All Freemen
Summary
6. Consensual Governance
The Flexibility of the Gooi-Thingman
Relationship
Advocacy, Vinfengi, and Kinship
Summary
7· Integration of the Church
The Conversion
The Developing Church
The Church and Secular Authority
Bishops and Priests
8. Farmers under Duress: A Lucrative Source of
Wealth
Acquisition of Property in the Family Sagas
Inheritance Claims in Sturlunga Saga
9· Limitations on a Chieftain's Ambitions
Arnkell' s Quest for Wealth and Power
10. Vinfengi: A Mechanism of Power
Summary
11. Conclusion
Sources of Epigraphs
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index
Maps
1. The North Atlantic world of the medieval
Icelanders
2. Quarter boundaries and assembly sites during
the Free State period (ca. 930-1264)
}a. Eyjafjoror (ca. 1190), showing locations of
chieftains and their thingmen as mentioned in
The Saga of Guomundr Dyri
}b. Eyjafjoror (ca. 1190), showing ties of allegiance
between four chieftains and their thingmen as
mentioned in The Saga of Guomundr Dyri
4· Bishoprics and monasteries
5· Snrefellsnes
6. Landownership in Alptafjoror
7· Land claims in Alptafjoror immediately before
Arnkell' s death
8. The arena of conflict in the contest between
Geitir and Brodd-Helgi from Vapnfiroinga saga