Battle of Örlygsstaðir

The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was a historic battle fought by the Sturlungar against	Ásbirningar and the Haukdælir clans in northern Iceland. The battle was part of the civil war that was taking place in Iceland at the time between various powerful clans (Sturlungaöld - The Age of the Sturlungs), and was the largest battle in the history of Iceland.

The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was fought on 21 August 1238 between Sighvatur Sturluson (brother of Snorri Sturluson), his son Sturla Sighvatsson on the one hand and Kolbeinn ungi, Gissur Þorvaldsson (later Earl Gissur) on the other. The latter were the victors. Over 50 men were killed on that day and five others, including Þórir jökull Steinfinnsson were executed by beheading following the battle. The names of those who perished on that day are recorded in the Íslendinga saga which is included as a part of the Sturlunga saga.

In 1988 a memorial was raised on the site of the battle, which describes the battle.

Other sources

 * Jón Jóhannesson, Magnús Finnbogason and Kristján Eldjárn (eds.) Sturlunga Saga, Vol 1 & 2, (Sturlunguútgáfan, Reykjavík: 1946)
 * Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson Íslenskur sögu atlas: Volume 1, Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar (Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík: 1989)