Sturla Turns 800

A celebration is planned in Dalasýsla this weekend to mark 800 years since the birth of saga writer Sturla Þórðarson, reports Vísir.

The guest of honour will be former president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and guest speakers include; Speaker of the House Einar K. Guðfinnsson, Norwegian politician Olemic Thommessen, writer Einar Kárason and director of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, Guðrún Nordal.

Sturla Þórðarson, Snorri Sturluson’s nephew and pupil, was a chieftain as well as a saga and contemporary history writer active in the 13th century. His most famous work is Íslendinga saga, the longest saga within Sturlunga saga.

In the wake of the dissolution of the Icelandic Commonwealth, Sturla was also appointed ‘law speaker’ of Iceland for a brief period.

The celebration will be held this Sunday at Tjarnarlund in Saurbæ, Dalasýsla.