Monastic Iceland

260 Pages·2022·6.699 MB·English

by  Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir

MONASTIC ICELAND
This book provides an overview of medieval monasticism in Iceland, from its dawn
to its downfall during the Reformation.
Blending the evidence from material remains and written documents, Monastic
Iceland highlights the realities of everyday life in the male and female monasteries
operated in Iceland. The book describes the incorporation of monasticism into the
Icelandic society, the alleged land of the Vikings, and thus how the monasteries
coexisted with the natural and social environments on the island while keeping
their general aims and objectives. The book shows that large social systems, such as
monasticism, can cross social and natural borders without necessitating fundamental
changes apart from those triggered by the constant coexistence of nature and culture
inside the environment they exist within. The evidence provided debunks the myth
that Icelandic monasteries, male or female, were isolated, silent places or simple
cells functioning principally as retirement homes for aristocrats. To be a member of
an ecclesiastical institution did not mean a quiet, secluded life without any outside
interaction, but rather active participation in the surrounding community.
The book is for researchers in archaeology, osteology, and medieval history, in
addition to all those interested in monasticism and the medieval history of northern
Europe.
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir is Professor of Archaeology at the University of
Iceland. Her main interests lie in the field of medieval monasticism, feminism, and
gender archaeology. Steinunn has published two monographs in Icelandic. Both
books were nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize. Steinunn was the head of
Department of Philosophy, History and Archaeology, University of Iceland, from
2018 to 2022.

MONASTIC ICELAND
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir
Designed cover image: A cornerstone from the monastic building in
Hítardalur (National Museum of Iceland_Mýra-006)
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir
The right of Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-032-42071-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-42072-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-36107-7 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003361077
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
CONTENTS
List of Figures viii
List of Tables ix
Acknowledgements x
Specific Notes xii
1 Introduction 1
The Background in Brief 2
Skriðuklaustur – Above and Beyond 5
The Agents of Monasticism 7
Present and Absent-Present 9
2 The Historiography of Medieval Monasticism in Iceland 15
Protestantism and Nationalism 15
Grand Narratives 19
New Social History and Feminism 23
Historical Archaeology 26
3 The Making of Icelandic Society 31
The Settlement of Iceland 31
The Expansion of Monasticism 33
The Chieftains and the Church 36
Periodical Struggle of Monasticism 40
Challenging Innovations of Christianity 42
Rights and Duties 46
vi Contents
4 The Christianization 53
Christian Settlers and Pilgrimage 53
Hermits and Anchorites in Iceland 56
Early Eremitic and Anchoritic Solitude in Iceland 58
Eremitic and Anchoritic Representatives After the Conversion 61
Becoming Christian 63
Papal Instructions and Statutes 67
Materiality of Medieval Christendom 69
5 The Monastic Landscape 77
A Finely Woven Network 77
Location on a Well-trodden Path 82
The Monastic Precincts 86
Places of Sanctuary and Absolution 90
Divine Manifestation 94
Boundaries 97
6 Visiting the Monastic Houses 103
The Benedictines at Munkaþverárklaustur 103
The Other Three Benedictine Houses in Iceland 108
The Augustinian Houses, Furniture, and Items 114
7 Disruptive Events 124
Catastrophic Fire in Hítardalur 1148 124
Monasteries on Fire 127
The Plague 133
Post-Plague Recovery 137
Scandals 142
Syphilis 144
Disobedience 146
A Case of Heresy? 150
8 The Monastic Communities 157
The Devotion of the Icelandic Monastic Houses 158
Textiles as Texts 162
The Livestock of the Monastic Houses 165
Household and Farm Work 170
Corrody Contracts 174
Obedientiaries, Novices, and Students 180
The Number of Residents, Lay and Religious 183
Contents vii
9 Iceland’s Five Hundred Years of Monasticism: The End 193
Reforming the World 194
Viðeyjarklaustur Attacked 196
Dissolution of Iceland’s Remaining Monastic Houses 197
The Execution of Bishop Jón Arason 199
Valuables Transported to Denmark 201
Idolatry and Heresy 202
The Valþjófsstaður Door 205
The Tudor Rose and the Pomegranate 209
Bibliography 214
Printed Primary Sources 214
Unpublished Theses and Reports 216
Secondary Sources 219
Index 240
FIGURES
1.1 The location and dates of activity of hermits, anchorites, male
and female monasteries, and bishoprics in Iceland during the
Middle Ages 3
1.2 The ground plan of Skriðuklaustur 6
4.1 A replica of the antependium from Grenjaðarstaður 66
5.1 A map of Iceland 1734, showing the four quarters of the country 78
5.2 The geophysical survey undertaken in Þykkvabæjarklaustur 88
6.1 A plan of the building of Munkaþverárklaustur, based on the
inventory of 1525 104
6.2 The seal from Reynistaðarklaustur 111
6.3 A plan of the building of Helgafellsklaustur, based on the
inventory of 1397 117
6.4 An illustration of the monastic building of Þykkvabæjarklaustur,
based on the inventories of 1340 and 1523, and the results from
the geophysical survey 119
7.1 The antependium from Skarð 140
8.1 From Kirkjubæjarbók 160
9.1 The Valþjófsstaður door 207
TABLES
8.1 Ecclesiastical textiles and garments recorded in the monastic houses 164
8.2 Number of cattle and sheep owned by the monastic houses 166
8.3 Number of wether, lamb, rams, and ewes owned by the
monastic houses 166
8.4 Number of yearlings, calves, bulls, and cows owned by the
monastic houses 167
8.5 The number of religious inhabitants in the monastic houses,
excluding the laity 184
8.6 The approximate size of the monastic communities, including
the laity 186
8.7 The approximate size of the monastic communities, based
on the number of animals in their livestock 187
8.8 Number of horses owned by the monastic houses in different periods 188