Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir
Encyclopedia
Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir was the historical protagonist of the Medieval Icelandic
Laxdœla saga
, which recounts the history of the People of Laxárdalur
. She was famed for her beauty and was married four times. Her first marriage to Thorvaldr Halldorsson ended in divorce. Her second husband Thord Ingunnarsson drowned at sea.
After her second husband's death she was courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Óláfsson and Bolli Þorleiksson
. Guðrún preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjörg, the sister of King Óláfr Tryggvason. The two foster-brothers engaged in hostilities which ended with Bolli killing Kjartan, and Bolli being killed by Kjartan's kinsmen.
Her second son, Bolli Bollason
, was born the winter after the killing of his father, and her first son Thorleik was only four at the time. They grew up in Helgafell, after his mother Guðrún exchanged homes with the renowned Snorri
the Goði.
In 1020, Guðrún married for the fourth time, this time to Thorkell Eyjolffsson, who became a great chieftain in his own countryside and took over the running of the household at Holyfell. Thorkell was fond of both his stepsons, but Bolli was regarded as "being the foremost in all things". Thorleik journeyed abroad to Norway, and stayed with King Olaf II
for several months.
Guðrún constantly argued for revenge for the killing of her former husband Bolli Þorleiksson, but eventually her two sons made peace with the sons of Óláfr, Kjartan's kinsmen, at the Thorness Thing
; it is not known how much money was exchanged in compensation
as part of the agreement, but "both sides were thought to have gained in esteem from these affairs".
In her old age Guðrún was asked by her son Bolli which of the men in her life she loved most. She gave the cryptic response "To him I was worst whom I loved best," which answer, though accepted by her son, has sparked great debate among scholars as to whom she was referring.
Guðrún was the first nun and recluse in Iceland, and she died and was buried at Helgafell
.
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
Laxdœla saga
Laxdœla saga
Laxdæla saga ; also Laxdœla saga, Laxdoela saga, Laxdaela saga, or The Saga of the People of Laxárdalr) is one of the Icelanders' sagas. Written in the 13th century, it tells of people in the Breiðafjörður area of Iceland from the late 9th century to the early 11th century...
, which recounts the history of the People of Laxárdalur
Norse clans
The Scandinavian clan or ætt was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing.-History:...
. She was famed for her beauty and was married four times. Her first marriage to Thorvaldr Halldorsson ended in divorce. Her second husband Thord Ingunnarsson drowned at sea.
After her second husband's death she was courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Óláfsson and Bolli Þorleiksson
Bolli Þorleiksson
Bolli Þorleiksson was a key historical character in the Medieval Icelandic Laxdœla saga, which recounts the history of the People of Laxárdalur. He courted the famed Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, but Guðrún preferred his foster-brother Kjartan Ólafsson...
. Guðrún preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjörg, the sister of King Óláfr Tryggvason. The two foster-brothers engaged in hostilities which ended with Bolli killing Kjartan, and Bolli being killed by Kjartan's kinsmen.
Her second son, Bolli Bollason
Bolli Bollason
Bolli Bollason was a key historical character in the Medieval Icelandic Laxdæla saga, born around 1004. He grew up in Orlygsstadir, at Helgafell on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland...
, was born the winter after the killing of his father, and her first son Thorleik was only four at the time. They grew up in Helgafell, after his mother Guðrún exchanged homes with the renowned Snorri
Snorri Goði
Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri Goði was a prominent chieftain in Western Iceland, who featured in a number of Icelandic sagas. The main source of his life is the Eyrbyggja saga, in which he is the main character, although he also figures prominently in Njál's saga and the Laxdæla saga...
the Goði.
In 1020, Guðrún married for the fourth time, this time to Thorkell Eyjolffsson, who became a great chieftain in his own countryside and took over the running of the household at Holyfell. Thorkell was fond of both his stepsons, but Bolli was regarded as "being the foremost in all things". Thorleik journeyed abroad to Norway, and stayed with King Olaf II
Olaf II
Olaf II may refer to:* Olof Björnsson of Sweden* Amlaíb Cuarán of Dublin* Olaf II of Norway * Olaf Haraldsen * Olaf II of the Isle of Man...
for several months.
Guðrún constantly argued for revenge for the killing of her former husband Bolli Þorleiksson, but eventually her two sons made peace with the sons of Óláfr, Kjartan's kinsmen, at the Thorness Thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
; it is not known how much money was exchanged in compensation
Weregild
Weregild was a value placed on every human being and every piece of property in the Salic Code...
as part of the agreement, but "both sides were thought to have gained in esteem from these affairs".
In her old age Guðrún was asked by her son Bolli which of the men in her life she loved most. She gave the cryptic response "To him I was worst whom I loved best," which answer, though accepted by her son, has sparked great debate among scholars as to whom she was referring.
Guðrún was the first nun and recluse in Iceland, and she died and was buried at Helgafell
Helgafell
Helgafell is a small mountain on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula of Iceland. The mountain is high, and a temple in honor of Þór was built there by the first settler of the area, Þórólfur Mostraskegg. Helgafell also appears in the Laxdaela saga as the location where the heroine Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir last...
.
External links
- Translation in English by Muriel Press (The Temple Classics, London, 1899)
- Text with modern Icelandic spelling
- Laxdæla saga in an English translation by Muriel A. C. Press, 1899, from Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...
- Genealogy