Ingólfur Arnarson

Norse colonist

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founding of Reykjavík

  • Reykjavík
    In Reykjavík: History

    …in 874 by the Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson. However, a town began to develop in that location only centuries later. Before the 18th century most of what is now Reykjavík consisted of farms. In the 18th century a settlement was established to support the local wool industry. It was granted municipal…

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settlement of Iceland

  • Iceland
    In Iceland: Settlement (c. 870–c. 930)

    …that the first permanent settler, Ingólfr Arnarson, came from Norway to Iceland to settle in the year 874. He chose as his homestead a site that he named Reykjavík, which he farmed with his wife, Hallveig Fródadóttir. The Book of Settlements then enumerates more than 400 settlers who sailed with…

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