Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson of Eyri in Arnarfjörður is the chieftain of the Seldælir and the most famous healer in Iceland, a pilgrim to Canterbury, Santiago and Rome (Hrafns saga; the years are not pinned here).
He is a peacemaker in the Westfjords: in 1196-97 he stood guarantor for the settlement of the Rauðasandur killing. His feud with Þorvaldur of Vatnsfjörður is still in the future.
Who he is
- Name
- Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson
- Title
- Chieftain of the Seldælir; physician
- Since
- Not pinned
- Born
- Not pinned; killed at Eyri by Þorvaldur of Vatnsfjörður on 4 March 1213
- Family
- His sister Herdís is married to Hallur Gissurarson of the Haukdælir. His sons Sveinbjörn and Krákur are later his avengers.
- Confidence
- medium
Hrafns saga Sveinbjarnarsonar (Vigfusson's vol. 2): after the killing of Markús at Rauðasandur (autumn 1196) Hrafn stood guarantor for the settlement at a meeting at Haukaberg on Barðaströnd.
What it holds
- Eyri in Arnarfjörður
- The chieftaincy of Arnarfjörður and its neighbourhood (its name is not given in the sources checked)
How it was acquired
Inherited (not pinned).
Allies and rivals
Tied by marriage to the Haukdælir; friends among the clergy (Bishop Guðmundur later gives him a sun-stone).
How things stand that morning
At Eyri, at peace.
Wealth
Farms of Arnarfjörður; gifts and fees as a physician.
Military
Thingmen of Arnarfjörður.
Places of note
- Eyri: Hrafn's farm.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Hrafns saga, written soon after his death by a cleric who knew him; dates for the 1190s are thin.
On the map: A chieftain's power was over thingmen, not ground, and a farmer could in principle change chieftain; the polygon draws the district where his thingmen and farms lay that winter, from the saga evidence, not a border. The extent is an inference from his seat.
Primary sources for Seldælir
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The saga of the Sturlungs: the compilation of contemporary Icelandic sagas, Sturla Þórðarson and other authors, compiled by Þórðr Narfason (the component sagas between about 1200 and 1280; compiled about 1300). The only contemporary narrative of Iceland. Read online
- The Grey Goose laws: the law of the Icelandic Commonwealth (law first written down in 1117 to 1118; the surviving manuscripts Konungsbók (about 1250) and Staðarhólsbók (about 1270)). The law under which Iceland was run in 1200: the goðar and their thingmen, the local and quarter things and the Althing, the Fifth Court, the lawspeaker, outlawry, compensation and the Christian law section with the tithe. Read online
Sources and studies
- Sturlunga saga, ed. Gudbrand Vigfusson (Oxford 1878), vol. 1: Islendinga saga, Sturlu saga, Gudmundar saga dyra and the genealogies (full text searched)
- Sturlunga saga, ed. Gudbrand Vigfusson (Oxford 1878), vol. 2: Hrafns saga Sveinbjarnarsonar (full text searched)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.