Battle of Haugsnes

The Battle of Haugsnes (Icelandic: Haugsnesbardagi) was fought at Haugsnes, a low peninsula south of Flugumýri in Skagafjörður, Northern Iceland. The battle was fought on April 19, 1246 between the forces of Þórður kakali Sighvatsson and those of Gissur Þorvaldsson. Þórður was victorious. It was the bloodiest battle ever to be fought in Icelandic history, with about 110 casualties in total, amongst them Brandur Kolbeinsson, chieftain of the Ásbirningar family clan. Defeat in battle led to the end of power for the Ásbirningar.[1]

Battle of Haugsnes
Part of Age of the Sturlungs
The site of the battle. 1100 boulders have been arranged in battle order, each representing a combatant.
Date 19 April 1246 Location Haugsnes, Iceland Result Sturlungar victory
Belligerents
Sturlungar	Ásbirningar
Commanders and leaders
Þórður Sighvatsson	Brandur Kolbeinsson †
Strength
~500	~600
Casualties and losses
~40	~70

The artist and farmer Sigurður Hansen of Kringlumýri created a memorial for the battle at the site, consisting of more than 1100 boulders in battle order, each representing a combatant. Those who fell are marked with iron crosses.[2]

References

1. "Haugsnes (Historical Places in Northwest Iceland)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
2. Haugsnesbardagi í túninu heima (video about the memorial)

• Árni Daníel Júlíusson, Jón Ólafur Ísberg, Helgi Skúli Kjartansson Íslenskur sögu atlas: 1. bindi: Frá öndverðu til 18. aldar (Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík: 1989)