Old Covenant (Iceland)

The Old Covenant (Modern Icelandic: Gamli sáttmáli [ˈkamlɪ ˈsauhtˌmauːlɪ]; Old Norse: [ˈɡɑmle ˈsɑːtːˌmɑːle]) was the name of the agreement which effected the union of Iceland and Norway. It is also known as Gissurarsáttmáli, named after Gissur Þorvaldsson, the Icelandic chieftain who worked to promote it. The name "Old Covenant", however, is probably due to historical confusion. Gamli sáttmáli is properly the treaty of 1302 mentioned below and the treaty of 1262 is the actual Gissurarsáttmáli.

The agreement also led to a shift in Iceland's political ideology towards the model of monarchy since it diminished the role of its chieftains (goði) as models of political rule.^[1] Prior to the agreement, the chieftains' power, which developed into a Commonwealth, was idealized particularly during the 12th and 13th centuries.^[1]

Covenant

The agreement was made in 1262–1264 between the major chieftains of Iceland and Haakon IV of Norway, and his son and successor, Magnus the Lawgiver. The signing brought about the union of Iceland with Norway, which subsequently led to Iceland's union with Denmark in 1380, by way of the Kalmar Union.

The years preceding the signing of the accord were marked by civil strife in Iceland (the so-called Age of the Sturlungs), as the Norwegian king tried to exert his influence through the Icelandic family clans, most notably the Sturlungs. Gissur Þorvaldsson, a vassal of the king, worked as his agent in the matter.

According to the provisions in the agreement, the Icelanders were to bear taxation from the Norwegian king, but in exchange they were to receive a code of laws, guaranteed peace and reliable transportation and shipping between Norway and Iceland.^[2] Norwegians and Icelanders received equal rights in each other's countries. The laws of the Icelandic Commonwealth were updated and a book of laws named Jónsbók was issued in 1281. Under the Norwegian rule, trade links between the two countries increased and Iceland's settlement expanded.^[3]

The agreement was renewed in 1302 at the behest of Haakon V of Norway. Iceland's union with Norway (and, after the Treaty of Kiel, with Denmark) lasted until 1944, during World War II, when the Republic of Iceland was founded.

Several possible explanations have been offered for the succumbing of Icelandic chieftains to the Norwegian Crown:

They were tired of war and believed that a covenant with the King would lead to lasting peace.
A fear that the King would embargo Iceland unless they swore allegiance to him.
The support of the Church for the King's cause to annex Iceland.
Icelandic chieftains making deals with the King to annex Iceland in exchange for serving as his courtiers.
Icelandic chieftains surrendering their chieftaincies in the hopes that they would soon rule them as fiefs.
The Icelanders were not aware of ideas of sovereignty and did not adhere to modern types of nationalism.
Royal power was a much stronger political force than the Icelandic Commonwealth.^[4]

The use of the sagas as accurate historical sources has been questioned by historian Patricia Pires Boulhosa who claims Gamli sáttmáli is a much younger document and was used to negotiate with the Norwegian king for the benefit of Icelanders.^{[citation needed]} Some historians, therefore, questioned the authenticity of the Old Covenant itself, citing that it could be an imaginative reconstruction.^[2] The earliest copies of the Old Covenant are from the 15th century.

References

^ ^a ^b Coroban, Costel (2018). Ideology and Power in Norway and Iceland, 1150-1250. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781527506268.
^ ^a ^b Jakobsson, Sverrir; Halfdanarson, Gudmundur (2016). Historical Dictionary of Iceland. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 175. ISBN 9781442262904.
^ Rugg, Andy (May 24, 2016). "The Copenhagen Post - Danish News in English". cphpost.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-11-29.
^ Karlsson, Gunnar (2000). The History of Iceland. pp. 85–87.

Bibliography

Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson Íslenskur sögu atlas: 1. bindi: Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík 1989
Boulhosa, Patricia Pires (2005), Icelanders and the Kings of Norway: Medieval Sagas and Legal Texts, The Northern World, Brill Academic.

[:0-1] Coroban, Costel (2018). Ideology and Power in Norway and Iceland, 1150-1250. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781527506268.

[:1-2] Jakobsson, Sverrir; Halfdanarson, Gudmundur (2016). Historical Dictionary of Iceland. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 175. ISBN 9781442262904.

[3] Rugg, Andy (May 24, 2016). "The Copenhagen Post - Danish News in English". cphpost.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-11-29.

[4] Karlsson, Gunnar (2000). The History of Iceland. pp. 85–87.

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v t e Age of the Sturlungs
Family clans	Sturlungar Ásbirningar Oddaverjar Haukdælir Vatnsfirðingar Svínfellingar
Goði chieftains	Snorri Sturluson Sighvatr Sturluson Sturla Sighvatsson Þórður kakali Sighvatsson Sturla Þórðarson Gissur Þorvaldsson Kolbeinn ungi Arnórsson Brandur Kolbeinsson Eyjólfur ofsi Þorsteinsson
Battles and conflicts	Battle of Víðines (1208) Battle of Örlygsstaðir (1238) Battle of the Gulf (1244) Battle of Haugsnes (1246) Flugumýri Arson (1253)
Politics	Haakon IV of Norway Hallvarður gullskór Vassalage Old Covenant Icelandic Commonwealth Jarldom Alþingi Goðorð

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Middle ages Settlement of Iceland 870–930 Icelandic Commonwealth 930–1262 Farthings 965 Christianization 999–1118 Sturlung era 1180–1264 Staðamálin 1178–1297 Norwegian rule 1262–1380 Old Covenant 1262 Danish rule 1380–1918 Reformation 1536–1627 Danish trade monopoly 1602–1874 Eruption of Laki 1783–1785
Modern era Independence movement 1809–1847 Prohibition 1915–1989 Kingdom of Iceland 1918–1944 Act of Union World War II 1939–1944 British invasion of Iceland 1940 Allied occupation of Iceland 1940–1945 Invader relationships Founding of republic 1944 Iceland in the Cold War 1947–1991 Cod Wars 1948–1976 Anti-NATO riot 1949 Financial crisis 2008–2011 COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022
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