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{{Short description|13th century Icelandic family clan}}
{{no footnotes|date=May 2021}}
The '''Sturlungs''' ([[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]: '''{{lang|is|Sturlungar}}''' {{IPA|is|ˈstʏ(r)tluŋkar̥|}}) were a powerful family clan in 13th century [[Iceland]], in the time of the [[Icelandic Commonwealth]].  Their story is partly told in ''[[Sturlunga saga]]'', and members of the clan were significant participants in the civil war of the [[Age of the Sturlungs]]. The Sturlungs were a wealthy and influential clan.  They controlled western Iceland, the [[Westfjords]] and north eastern Iceland.

The patriarch of the Sturlungs was Sturla Þórðarson, whom scholars believe was born around 1115. He inherited his ''[[goðorð]]'' (domain, realm or area of influence) from his father Þórður Gilsson.  Sturla quarrelled extensively with Einar Þorgilsson of Staðarhóll and many other chieftains. [[Jón Loftsson]], a well-respected man, mediated in one of these disputes.  Following this, he was entrusted with the upbringing of Sturla's son [[Snorri Sturluson]], who later became the most influential of the Sturlungs and the most famous because of his literary endeavours.  Snorri had two brothers, Þórður Sturluson and [[Sighvatur Sturluson]].

The descendants of Sturla played an important role in the Age of the Sturlungs civil war, most notably his sons Snorri and Sighvatur, and Sighvatur's son [[Þórður kakali Sighvatsson]].  Another notable Sturlung was [[Sturla Þórðarson]], son of Þórður Sturluson, who fought with Þórður kakali.  He wrote ''[[Íslendinga saga]]'', the longest part of ''Sturlunga saga'', and ''Hákonar saga gamla'', the story of [[Haakon IV of Norway]].  Some scholars also attribute to him the authorship of ''[[Kristni saga]]'' and a transcript of ''[[Landnámabók]]''.

The writing of the [[Icelandic sagas]] began with the Sturlungs, and many of those written before 1280 were their work, or were written at their behest.

==References==
* Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson ''Íslenskur sögu atlas: 1. bindi: Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar'' Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík 1989

{{Age of the Sturlungs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturlungar Family Clan}}
[[Category:Sturlungar family clan| ]]
[[Category:Icelandic family clans]]

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