Flugumýri’s centuries of chieftains, conflict and community in North Iceland

Set in the northern countryside of Skagafjörður, at the foot of Glóðafeykir mountain, lies Flugumýri. More than a simple farm, Flugumýri has been both a home for Icelandic chieftains and a witness to pivotal moments in the nation’s tumultuous past.

Origins and legendary horses

The story of Flugumýri begins in the earliest days of Icelandic settlement. The estate takes its name from a horse called Fluga, owned by Þórir dúfunef, one of the country’s earliest settlers according to the Landnámabók, the medieval chronicle of Iceland’s land-takers. Throughout the centuries, a large farm has occupied the site, with various powerful families calling it home.

Feuds, flames and the age of chieftains

During the violent Age of the Sturlungs in the 13th century, Flugumýri was associated with the Ásbirningar clan. Kolbeinn ungi Arnórsson, a chieftain, made his home there between 1233 and his death in 1245. After his passing, the estate changed hands and was bought by Gissur Þorvaldsson, another prominent leader. Gissur’s time at Flugumýri was marked by drama. In October 1253, rivals attacked during a family celebration, attempting to kill him by fire in what became known as the Flugumýri arson. This notorious incident is vividly remembered in Icelandic sagas, highlighting both the brutality and the shifting alliances of the age.

Ownership of Flugumýri passed back and forth, becoming property of the Hólar diocese by 1360 after being purchased by Bishop Jón skalli Eiríksson. For several centuries, the estate remained under church control, often hosting annual clergy meetings for north Iceland’s leading priests. When the church lands were broken up around 1800, Flugumýri was sold and its role began to evolve.

A place for healing, learning and worship

In the early 19th century, Flugumýri shifted from a power centre to a hub of care, as the region’s doctor, Ari Arason, lived and worked on the site. Education also came to the settlement: from 1880 to 1882, Flugumýri housed the Skagafjörður Women’s School until it closed. The school had earlier changed locations several times in nearby communities.

For centuries, a church has stood at Flugumýri, first mentioned in the medieval Sturlunga saga in connection with the arson attack. Gissur Þorvaldsson’s son Hallur, fatally wounded, was carried into the church, which at that time was dedicated to St Peter. The current church dates from 1929–1930 and now receives visiting clergy from Miklibær.

Above the farm rises Virkishóll, a hill thought to hold remnants of ancient fortifications from the age of chieftains. Around the settlement, valleys and rivers trace the changing boundaries of land, memory and identity. Today, Flugumýri is known for its sizable horse farm, carrying forward its historic connection to both people and animals.

TopicsFlugumýrihistoric estatesIcelandic sagasSkagafjörðurSturlung era