Family of Eyjólfur "ofsi“ ÞORSTEINSSON and Þuríður STURLUDÓTTIR

Einn forsprakka Flugumýrarbrennu, féll í bardaga á Þveráreyrum

Eyjólfur "ofsi" Þorsteinsson was married to Þuríður, the daughter of Sturla Sighvatsson, whom Gissur had killed at Örlygsstaðabardagi.

Þuríður wanted revenge for her father. Eyjólfur "ofsi" Þorsteinsson and his friend, Hrani, recruited a group of 42 armed men and arrived at Flugumýri after the wedding guests had left. 30 people lived at Flugumýri, not all of them able to hold a weapon. The ones who could put up a brave defence.

Seeing that the attacking men couldn't force their way into Flugumýri, they decided on burning down the manor.

Twenty-five people were burnt alive inside, among them the wife of Gissur and his 3 sons. The 13-year old bride, Ingibjörg, got saved by her kinsman among the attackers, and Gissur saved himself by hiding in a barrel of sour acid.

The 16-year old bridegroom, Hallur Gissurarson, jumped out of the burning farm, but his enemies hit him on the head and almost cut off his leg. He survived and the monk Þórólfur dragged him on a lambskin to church, where he died the next morning.

His father, Gissur, was helped to the church after he got out from the barrel of sour acid. Gissur was the only survivor of his family - what a terrible ending to a wedding party. This dreadful event took place on the 22nd of October 1253.

Flugumýri is best known to us Icelanders for Flugumýrarbrenna, the Fire at Flugumýri in 1253, which is considered to be the worst single act of barbarism of the Age of the Sturlungs.

Óskilgetin dóttir Sturlu.