The church farm of Reykholt in Reykholtsdalur, with its hot springs, is held in 1200 by the old priest-chieftain Magnús Pálsson and his wife Hallfríður.
It has nothing yet to do with Snorri Sturluson, who takes it over by agreement with them in 1205-06 and makes it the centre of his power.
Who he is
- Name
- Magnús Pálsson
- Title
- Priest and chieftain
- Since
- Not pinned (son of the priest Páll Sölvason of Reykholt, died 1185)
- Born
- Not pinned; elderly by 1205
- Family
- Married to Hallfríður.
- Confidence
- medium
Vigfusson's prolegomena to Sturlunga saga: Snorri moved to Reykholt in 1205 through an arrangement with "the priest and chief Magnus" and his wife Hallfríður, then elderly. Store norske leksikon gives Snorri's move as 1206.
What it holds
- Reykholt, a church farm (staður)
- A chieftaincy (not named in the sources checked)
How it was acquired
From his father Páll Sölvason (not pinned).
How things stand that morning
At Reykholt.
Wealth
Church farm and hot springs; the Borgarfjörður pastures.
Military
Thingmen of the upper Borgarfjörður.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1205-06 (beyond 1200)Snorri Sturluson takes over Reykholt by agreement with Magnús and Hallfríður.Depends on: Snorri's rise after Bersi's death. Stopped by: Anything that ruins Snorri.
Places of note
- Reykholt: Magnús's church farm.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: One line in Vigfusson's prolegomena and the later saga account of Snorri's move; his district is an inference.
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. Inferred from his farm.
Primary sources for Iceland
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 Icelandic annals to 1578 (compiled from the late 13th century onward from older notes). Year-by-year notices that fix Icelandic chronology. Read online
- 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 sagas of the Icelandic bishops: Páll of Skálholt, Guðmundr of Hólar and Þorlákr (Páls saga about 1211 to 1216; Þorláks saga about 1200 to 1210; the oldest Guðmundar saga in the 13th century). Páls saga is the life of Bishop Páll Jónsson of Skálholt (1195 to 1211), of the Oddaverjar, and tells how he had the churches and priests of his diocese counted, about 220 churches and 290 priests, how he furthered the cult of his uncle Þorlákr, whose relics were raised in 1198 and whose feast the Althing adopted in 1199, and how he dealt with the chieftains. 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
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.