Old Covenant (Iceland) facts for kids

The Old Covenant (in Modern Icelandic: Gamli sáttmáli) was a very important agreement. It joined Iceland and Norway together a long time ago. It's also sometimes called Gissurarsáttmáli, named after Gissur Þorvaldsson. He was an Icelandic leader who worked hard to make this agreement happen.

This agreement also changed how Iceland was ruled. Before, powerful leaders called goði (chieftains) had a lot of power. They had even created a kind of government called a Commonwealth. But after the Old Covenant, the idea of a king ruling became more important.

What Was the Old Covenant?

This agreement was made between 1262 and 1264. The main Icelandic chieftains agreed to it with Haakon IV of Norway, who was the King of Norway. Later, his son, Magnus the Lawgiver, also agreed.

Why Iceland Joined Norway

Signing the Old Covenant brought Iceland and Norway together. This union later led to Iceland joining Denmark in 1380, through something called the Kalmar Union.

The years before this agreement were tough for Iceland. There was a lot of fighting among different families, known as the Age of the Sturlungs. The Norwegian king wanted more power in Iceland. He used powerful Icelandic families, like the Sturlungs, to help him. Gissur Þorvaldsson was one of the king's helpers in Iceland.

What the Agreement Meant

Under the Old Covenant, Icelanders agreed to pay taxes to the Norwegian king. In return, the king promised them several things:

• A new set of laws.
• Guaranteed peace throughout the land.
• Reliable ships and trade between Norway and Iceland.

People from Norway and Iceland also got equal rights in each other's countries. The laws of the Icelandic Commonwealth were updated. A new law book, called Jónsbók, was created in 1281. With Norway's rule, trade between the two countries grew, and more parts of Iceland were settled.

The agreement was confirmed again in 1302 by Haakon V of Norway. Iceland stayed united with Norway (and later Denmark) until 1944. That's when Iceland became its own country, the Republic of Iceland, during World War II.

Why Icelandic Leaders Agreed

Historians have thought about why the Icelandic chieftains agreed to join the Norwegian king. Here are some ideas:

• They were tired of the constant fighting and hoped the agreement would bring lasting peace.
• They worried the king might stop all trade with Iceland if they didn't agree.
• The Church in Iceland supported the king's plan to take over Iceland.
• Some Icelandic leaders might have made deals with the king to keep their power.
• The king's power was much stronger than the old Icelandic Commonwealth system.

Some historians, like Patricia Pires Boulhosa, have even questioned if the Old Covenant document we have today is truly from that time. They suggest it might be a newer document used later to help Icelanders in talks with the Norwegian king. The oldest copies of the Old Covenant are from the 1400s.