Early settlers of Skagafjörður: the story of Sleitu-Björn Hróarsson

In the ninth century, the sweeping valleys and shores of Skagafjörður witnessed the arrival of one of Iceland’s first settlers. Sleitu-Björn Hróarsson, a Viking chieftain born around the year 890, is credited as the founder of one of the region’s earliest and most expansive settlements. His story anchors not only local history but also the intricate web of family lines and sagas that shape Iceland’s cultural memory.

A vast domain in the north

Sleitu-Björn’s settlement was remarkable for its size. Stretching from the river Gljúfurá (listed as Grjótá in some texts) to the river Deildará, his landholding included large parts of Viðvíkursveit, Hjaltadalur, Kolbeinsdalur, Óslandshlíð, and sections of Höfðaströnd and Deildardalur. In time, three other settlers, Öndóttur, Kolbeinn Sigmundarson, and Hjalti Þórðarson, would claim parts of this original estate. Sleitu-Björn established his homestead at what became known as Sleitustaðir.

There is some historical debate about Sleitu-Björn’s identity. Certain researchers propose that Sleitu-Björn may be the same figure as Sléttu-Björn, who appears in connection with a settlement in Saurbær, Dalasýsla, further west in Iceland. This theory suggests that he abandoned his land in Skagafjörður for other shores. Others maintain, using genealogies and family listings as evidence, that they were separate individuals. The two sets of descendants recorded in the sources have no overlap, and descendants of Sleitu-Björn are found in Skagafjörður for generations.

Connections to the sagas

Sleitu-Björn’s influence is present not only in land but through his descendants, who appear in some of Iceland’s best-known sagas. His son Arnbjörn Björnsson is cited in Laxdæla saga as an important ancestor. Through Arnbjörn, Sleitu-Björn became the forebear of Þuríður, who married Þorleikur Höskuldsson and was the mother of Bolli Þorleiksson, a key figure in intertwined saga narratives. Another son, Arnoddur Björnsson, appears in Víga-Glúms saga. His daughter Sigríður married into another notable family, further connecting the saga heritage that threads through Iceland’s early history.

Records note that Sleitu-Björn’s first wife remains unnamed in history, though at least five children are attributed to the union. Later, he married Þuríður Steinólfsdóttir, daughter of Steinólfur lági Hrólfsson, and they had a son named Þjóðrekur Björnsson.

Whether in debate over his journeys or in the enduring presence of his descendants in both the landscape and the sagas, Sleitu-Björn Hróarsson’s legacy offers a glimpse into the foundations of Icelandic society. His story is part of the larger narrative of how Iceland’s valleys and coasts became home to generations whose deeds and stories would shape Iceland’s written tradition.

TopicsIcelandic sagasLandnámabókSkagafjörðurSleitu-Björn HróarssonViking settlement