Collapse Of The Commonwealth
Despite the benefits, several factors were beginning to undermine the Alping's authority. During the twelfth century, for instance, life in Iceland became tougher. The country's unstable geology made itself felt for the first time with the eruption of the volcano Hekla in southern Iceland in 1104, which buried around twenty farms. The climate cooled too; tree felling had become so extensive that there was no longer enough timber for ship building; and erosion from logging and overgrazing meant that viable farm land was shrinking, making the country dependent on imports . The tithes had also created a split in Iceland's formerly egalitarian society. With its taxes, the Church became rich and politically powerful, as did chieftains who owned Church lands or had become priests, and so took a share of the tithes. These chieftains formed a new elite group of aristocrats , who bought out their poorer neighbours and so concentrated land ownership, wealth, and inherent political power in the hands of just a few clans. At the same time, in 1152 the Icelandic Church came under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Nidaros in Norway, giving the expansionist Norwegian throne a lever to start pressuring Iceland to accept its authority. Backed by the Archbishop and porlakur porhallsson , bishop at Skalholt from 1179 and later beatified as Iceland's first saint, the Church began to demand freedom from secular laws. The Alping's lack of effective power now became clear, as it proved unable to deal with the Church's demands, or the fighting that was breaking out between the six biggest clans as they battled for political supremacy. The period from 1220 is known as the Sturlung Age after the most powerful of these clans, led by the historian, lawspeaker and wily politician Snorri Sturlusson . Travelling to Norway in 1218, Snorri became a retainer of King Hakon Hakonarson, and returned to Iceland in 1220 to promote Norwegian interests. But his methods were slow, and in 1235 the king sent Snorri's nephew, Sturla Sighvatsson , to Iceland to win it over for Norway, by force if necessary. In the ensuing civil war , forces led in part by Gissur porvaldsson , head of the Haukadalur clan, killed Sturla and virtually wiped out the Sturlungs at the battle of Orlygsstadir in 1238. Snorri escaped by being in Norway at the time, but was later killed by Gissur after his return. Amongst this violence, Iceland was also experiencing a literary flowering: Snorri Sturlusson wrote the Prose Eddas , containing much of what is known about Norse mythology; his relative Sturla pordarson compiled the Book of Settlements Expanded , accounts of the original landowners and their lives; and it was during this period that the Sagas were composed, recalling the nobler events of the early Commonwealth. Meanwhile the war continued, and by 1246 only two chieftains were left standing: Gissur porvaldsson, who held the south of the country; and Sturla's brother pordur , who controlled the north. Rather than fight, they let King Hakon decide who should govern the country; the king chose pordur, who ruled Iceland until 1250, sharing power with the two bishops - also Norwegian appointees. In the end, the bishop at Holar denounced pordur for putting his own interests before Norway's, and the king replaced him with Gissur who, after a further decade of skirmishes, finally persuaded Icelanders that the only way to obtain lasting peace was by accepting Norwegian sovereignty . In 1262, Iceland's chieftains signed the Gamli sattmali or Old Treaty , which allowed Iceland to keep its laws and promised that the Norwegian king would maintain order, in exchange for taxes and replacing the chieftainships with government officials. While the treaty didn't give Norway absolute control of the country, and demanded a return for Icelandic obedience, it marked the beginnings of seven centuries of foreign rule.
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" IcelandAaliyah says "Iceland is a beautiful country! Make sure to bring all your necessities. And have fun,exploring this wonderful country!" This Has To Be!PoorStudent says "This has to be the lamest country ever!" coolioomjay im so cool says "omjay iceland is like sooooo totally awsome ya knw check it out" Icelandcrackhead says "iceland sux, go f*** yourself" ................ says ".........................................is diz tirng ern ?????????????????????????????????????......................................................................" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" greathorse world says "the food here is amazing, don't knock it until you try it. this is a place where you can expierence the breathtaking landscapes, the extreme outdoors, delicious foods, a distinctive culture, and many other wonders. " how rude!unknown says "This is a well recpected web sit and it is upsetting to know some of you guys are leaving rude comments. I understand that you have your opinons but if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say nothing all. Well I been to Iceland and the place is absoultly beatuiful." yUR MOM`UNkNOWN' says "AlRiTE lETSz CEE'h hERE,
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