Richard Fidler - Saga Land

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20 million years

Iceland formed by string of volcanic eruptions in the B.C.E. North Atlantic.

8th9th century AD

Irish-Scots monks, the Papar, sail to Iceland and form scattered hermit settlements.

Norse raiders attack monastery at Lindisfarne off the northeast coast of England, marking the start of the Viking age.

Harald the Finehair becomes the first king of a unified Norway.

Viking settlement of Iceland begins.

The first Althing is proclaimed under the Law Rock at Thingvellir.

Norway adopts Christianity.

Warrior-poet Egil Skallagrmsson composes the poem Lament for My Sons.

Gsli the Outlaw dies in the northwest fjords of Iceland.

The first Norse colonies in Greenland founded by Erik the Red.

The Varangian Guard is founded in Constantinople by Emperor Basil II, drawing Vikings from across Northern Europe into its service.

Death of warrior-poet Egil Skallagrmsson.

Death of Gunnar of Hldarendi.

Leif Eriksson explores the coast of America.

1000

Iceland officially converts to Christianity.

1003

Kjartan lafsson is killed in mid-west Iceland.

1010

Lawyer Njl Thorgeirsson is killed by burning at his farm in southern Iceland.

c. 1010

Colonising expedition of Karlsefni and Gudrd to North America.

1060

Gudrn svfsdttir dies at Helgafell.

1104

Massive eruption at Mount Hekla. Ash and poison gas create widespread devastation across Iceland.

1110

King Sigurd Jerusalem-Farer of Norway arrives in Constantinople.

c. 1120

Saga-writing begins to flourish in Iceland. Ari the Wise starts work on slendingabk, The Book of Icelanders.

1179

Snorri Sturluson is born in Hvamm.

1199

Snorri marries Herds.

1201

Snorris daughter Hallbera is born.

1202

Snorri and Herds move to Borg.

1203

Jn Little Trout is born.

1206

Snorri settles at Reykholt.

1207

Snorris daughter Thrds is born to his mistress Oddn.

1208

Snorris daughter Ingibjrg is born to another mistress, Gudrn.

1215

Snorri becomes lawspeaker.

1217

Haakon IV is proclaimed King of Norway.

1218

Snorri travels to Norway by royal invitation.

1220

Snorri returns to Iceland and is accused of conniving to bring Iceland under Haakons rule.

c. 1220

Snorri writes the Prose Edda.

1221

Snorri resumes his role as lawspeaker of the Althing.

1224

Snorri enters into a common-law marriage with Hallveig Ormsdttir.

1229

Snorris son-in-law Thorvald is burnt to death in his farmhouse.
Thorvalds sons attack Sturlas farm. Snorris son Jn Little Trout goes to Norway.

1230

Truce between Snorri and Sturla.
Sturlunga Saga records Snorri as writing sagas at Reykholt.

c. 1230

Composition of Egils Saga and Heimskringla, Snorris history of the Norwegian kings.

1231

Volcanic eruption off the coast of Iceland.
Snorris daughter Hallbera dies.
Jn Little Trout dies in Norway.

1232

Sturlas men kill Thorvalds sons.
Snorris son Oraekja begins a rampage across Iceland.
Sturla goes to Norway and meets Haakon IV.

1233

Oraekja moves to attack Reykholt. Snorri consents to give Oraekja his farm at Stafholt.

1235

Sturla returns to Iceland from Norway, charged with bringing Iceland under his rule.

1236

Sturla marches on Reykholt; Snorri and Hallveig flee. Oraekja is gelded by Sturla at Surts Cave.

1237

Snorri flees to Norway and conspires with Earl Skuli.