Gissur

Gissur Þorvaldsson (c. 1185 – 1268) was a powerful Icelandic chieftain during the Sturlung Age, a period of intense internal conflict and civil war in Iceland. He played a significant role in the events that led to Iceland submitting to the rule of the King of Norway in 1262-1264, effectively ending the Icelandic Commonwealth.

Gissur belonged to the Haukdælir clan, one of the prominent families vying for power during the Sturlung Age. He was involved in numerous feuds, battles, and political intrigues. He is particularly remembered for his role in the assassination of Snorri Sturluson, a renowned Icelandic historian, poet, and politician, in 1241. This act, carried out at the behest of King Haakon IV of Norway, was a major turning point in Icelandic history.

While Gissur initially opposed Norwegian interference in Icelandic affairs, he ultimately came to believe that the ongoing violence and instability of the Sturlung Age necessitated a stronger central authority. He negotiated with King Haakon and facilitated Iceland's submission to the Norwegian crown. For his service, Gissur was granted titles and lands by the King and became one of the most influential figures in Iceland after the end of the Commonwealth. His actions remain a subject of debate among historians, with some viewing him as a pragmatist who sought to end the chaos, while others criticize him for betraying Icelandic independence. His story is primarily found in the Íslendinga saga (Saga of Icelanders) within the larger Sturlunga saga collection.