Battle of Haugsnes

Battle of Haugsnes
Part of Age of the Sturlungs
Date19 April 1246
LocationHaugsnes, Iceland
Result Sturlungar victory
Belligerents
Sturlungar Ásbirningar
Commanders and leaders
Þórður Sighvatsson Brandur Kolbeinsson 
Strength
~500 ~600
Casualties and losses
~40 ~70

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 lead to the end of power for the Ásbirningar.[1]

The artist and farmer Sigurður Hansen of Kringlumýri has 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

Coordinates: 65°50′00″N 23°15′00″W / 65.8333°N 23.25°W / 65.8333; -23.25


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