Landnámabók

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A page from a skin manuscript of Landnáma in the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavík, Iceland

Landnámabók (meaning "The Book of Settlement", often shortened to Landnáma) is an old Icelandic manuscript describing in considerable detail the settlement ("landnám") of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th century A.D. It begins with Ingólfur Arnarson's original settlement in Reykjavík and his claims on land to the north, west, east and south. It then moves on to describe the descendants of the original settlers and traces important events and family history into the 12th century. More than 3000 people and 1400 settlements are described. It remains an invaluable source on both the history and genealogy of the Icelandic people.

There are three surviving mediaeval versions of Landnámabók.

• Sturlubók by Sturla Þórðarson
• Hauksbók by Haukr Erlendsson, based on Sturlubók and a lost version by Styrmir Kárason
• Melabók

External links

• [Online publication of Landnámabók]
• [Landnámabók transcribed in English by Aaron Myer]
• [The Árni Magnússon Manuscript Musem's Website]

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