30th Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies
Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York City: March 27-28, 2010

Ármann Jakobsson, "Retelling the fall of the Commonwealth"

The Icelandic commonwealth officially came to an end in 1262–64, when Icelanders submitted to the Norwegian crown. Soon afterwards this event starts getting narrated in the historiography and in this paper I will discuss the changing meaning and diverse interpretations of the event throughout the ages; how every generation makes sense of it on its own premises. The examples in this paper will be taken from Sturla Þórðarson’s
work, fourteenth century clerical writers, the work of 17th century humanists, the early 20th century historian Jón Aðils and the work of some scholars of our age.

Last modified: Oct. 13, 2009
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