Saga - 2005, Page 128

lega hafa þau þyngsli sem fátækir bændur urðu fyrir af hálfu höfð-
ingja á 13. öld gert stöðu þeirra gagnvart stórbokkunum erfiðari.
Leiguliðar gætu að einhverju marki hafa komið úr röðum leysingja
(fram á 12. öld) en síðan úr röðum húskarla sem brutu undir sig
nýjar jarðir, enda fór lögbýlum fjölgandi fram á 14. öld. Einhver
hluti þeirra hefur þó verið bændur sem ekki sáu sér lengur fært að
halda í jarðir sínar.
Skömmu fyrir 1700 var sjálfsábúð á jörðum orðin afar sjaldgæf
á Íslandi. Það er greinilega afleiðing þróunar sem hófst á 12. öld og
hefur trúlega náð hámarki fyrir 1500. Íslenska þrælasamfélagið þró-
aðist þannig í „gósseigendaveldi“ á tiltölulega skömmum tíma. Á
því eru engar handbærar efnahagslegar skýringar og því þarf að
líta til félags- og hugmyndalegra þátta. Þar er nærtækt að nema
staðar við það stigveldi sem var þegar til staðar innan bændastétt-
arinnar og ráðandi stöðu stórbænda.
Abstract
F R O M S L AV E H O L D E R S T O L A N D O W N E R S :
M E D I E VA L I C E L A N D I C S O C I E T Y, 11 0 0 – 1 4 0 0
This article presents a hypothesis on the development of class structure in
Iceland, based on what can be deduced from the sources. Slavery seems to have
been customary in Iceland from settlement into the 12th century. While scholars
have usually downplayed the extent of this slavery and assumed that it ended
relatively soon after settlement, there is little evidence to support that view. From
what one may deduce from narrative sources, there were not only a considerable
number of slaves at every farm, but they also seem to have played a major role
in agricultural work. In fact, farmers themselves probably constituted only a frac-
tion of society, with the farmers who were considered well off in turn accounting
for only about 10% of all farmers. Nonetheless, this minority is strikingly promi-
nent in the Book of Settlement (Landnámabók) and various narrative sources, such
as the Icelandic Sagas. Therefore, Icelandic society was quite stratified from its
beginnings. Around 1100, on the other hand, various social developments
occurred which it is tempting to connect with the termination of slavery. These
turning points can be related to the increased institutionalisation of society, for
example regarding the tithe. At this time a group of farmers received the oppor-
tunity of demanding fees from others, while tenant farming gained prominence.
As before, the primary aim of increasing income was not the amassing of wealth,
but rather the respect that accompanied how the wealth was used. This social
disruption ultimately led to a consolidation of power and the end of the Icelandic
S V E R R I R J A K O B S S O N128
Saga haust 2005-NOTA 23.11.2005 20:10 Page 128